Veteran Chhattisgarh politician Ramchandra Singhdeo passes away

The former and first finance minister of Chhattisgarh, Ramchandra Singhdeo, passed away on Friday at a hospital here.

The 88-year-old Congress party leader breathed his last at around 1:30 AM in the city's Ramkrishna Hospital.

Singhdeo had been sick for last few months, and was supposed to travel to New Delhi for his medical treatment.

He was born on February 13, 1930 in Baikunthpur in the Koriya district of Chhattisgarh.

After completing Masters Degree in Science, the senior politician took a doctorate (PhD) in life science.

He served as the Minister of Water Resources before Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000. He was known as a bold leader, who would often defy his party line for the welfare of the common people.

The first Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Ajit Jogi, chose him as the minister with key portfolios, including finance, commercial tax and planning.

--ANI