Vadodara: Eight-time BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Yogesh Patel passed away in Vadodara on Tuesday following a prolonged illness. He was 79 and would have turned 80 next month.Patel, the sitting MLA from Manjalpur constituency, had been unwell for some time and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital for age-related ailments over the last two days. He is survived by his wife Saroj, son Rakesh Patel, who is based in the United States, and daughters Angira and Chiragi.Popularly known as “Kaka” among party workers and residents, Patel was one of Vadodara’s most influential political leaders and among the longest-serving legislators in Gujarat. He represented Vadodara in the state assembly continuously for 36 years, winning eight consecutive assembly elections from 1990 onwards.Patel was elected from the Raopura assembly constituency five times, in 1990, 1995, 1998, 2002 and 2007. After the delimitation of constituencies, he shifted to Manjalpur and continued his winning streak in 2012, 2017 and 2022.A senior BJP leader, Patel served as minister of state for Narmada development and urban housing in the govt led by former chief minister Vijay Rupani. In 2022, he was named the pro tem speaker of the Gujarat assembly.Born in 1946, Patel’s public life began well before his electoral career. In 1978, he had led an agitation against a 10-paise increase in milk prices and sustained burns while participating in a protest near Amdawadi Pole.Apart from politics, Patel left a lasting imprint on Vadodara’s cultural landscape. He founded the Satyam Shivam Sundaram Committee, which commissioned the iconic 111-foot Sarveshwar Mahadev statue in Sursagar Lake.Work on the statue began in 1996 and was completed in 2002. At the time of its inauguration, it was touted as the tallest Shiva statue in the country. The structure stands on 23 pilings driven 78 feet deep into the lake bed. Patel later established the Suvarna Sankalp Foundation to undertake gold plating of the statue. The gold plated statue was formally dedicated to the city in 2023.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the demise of veteran BJP leader and Manjalpur MLA Yogesh Patel.In a condolence message, Modi said he was saddened by Patel’s passing and described him as a true people’s leader who consistently raised public issues with integrity, sensitivity and commitment.Shah termed the death of the eight-time MLA as extremely heartbreaking, recalling Patel’s simple nature, his contribution to strengthening the BJP organisation in Gujarat, and his active role in addressing public concerns. Both leaders prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family.Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel said the veteran legislator’s contribution to public service and the BJP organisation would always be remembered. In a statement, the CM described the news as “extremely heart-breaking” and said Patel had earned a special place in the hearts of ordinary people through his commitment to public service.Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi, Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma and several senior party leaders also expressed grief over Patel’s passing and extended condolences to his family. As the news of his demise spread, large number of leaders reached the hospital. His last rites will be held on June 4 after the return of his son from the US.
