Senior BJP leader and formerParliamentarian Rudra Pratap Sarangi died after prolonged illness in his residence in Chakradharpur in West Singhbhum district today.
He was 87.
Regarded as patriarch of BJP in mineral-rich Kolhan region of Jharkhand, Sarangi first became an MLA in 1962 as an Independent. In 1967,he won the assembly election on Jan Sangh ticket and became a minister in the M P Sinha-headed Bihar government.
Sarangi also won Lok Sabha polls two consecutive terms since 1977 as Janta Party nominee from Jamshedpur seat.
His funeral has taken place in Chakradharpur.
A host of party leaders arrived in Chakradharpur to pay their last tribute to the departed soul.
Describing him as patriarch of the party, former Jharkhand unit president of BJP, Dineshanand Goswami said Sarangi's death caused an irreparable loss to the party.