BJP MP Dilip Singh Bhuria passes away

Dilip Singh Bhuria, sitting BJP MP from Ratlam-Jhabua Lok Sabha constituency, died on Wednesday after a prolonged illness.

Dilip Singh Bhuria, sitting BJP MP from Ratlam-Jhabua Lok Sabha constituency, died on Wednesday after a prolonged illness.

Bhuria, 71, breathed his last 10.35 am at Medanata hospital in Gurgaon where he was undergoing treatment for cardiac ailment and lung infection.

His body was brought to native Machaliya village for last rites. The cremation will take place on Thursday at 10 am in which senior BJP leaders are likely to remain present.

With Bhuria's demise, BJP has lost a prominent tribal face in south west Madhya Pradesh. Born in Machhaliya village in south west MP's Jhabua district in 1944, Bhuria was five-time Congress party MP since 1980.

He left Congress to join BJP in 1994 as his tussle with another Jhabua's prominent Congress party tribal leader Kantilal Bhuria grew to gain dominance in party's rank and file.

His relations with former chief minister Digvijay Singh who supported Kantilal Bhuria also turned sour.

Soon after joining, the BJP-led NDA government appointed him president of National ST Commission. Contesting on BJP ticket, he lost 2009 Lok Sabha elections to Kantilal Bhuria but defeated him in 2014 general elections.