Former Nagpur MP Jambuwantrao Dhote, ‘Lion of Vidarbha’, no more

Dhote, who staunchly supported the creation of a Vidarbha state, started his political career with Forward Bloc and later moved to Congress, before joining the Shiv Sena.

Firebrand Vidarbha leader and former Nagpur MP Jambuwantrao Dhote passed away on Saturday morning following a massive heart attack.

Jambuwantrao Dhote

According to his family, Dhote suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to a nearby private nursing home where he died during the course of treatment.

He was 78 and is survived by wife, Vijaya and two daughters, Kranti and Jwala.

His last rites would be performed at Yavatmal on Sunday, family sources informed.

Known as the Lion of Vidarbha for his support to statehood for the region, Dhote was also a legislator for two terms from Yavatmal district. An ardent disciple of Subhash Chandra Bose, he started his political career with Forward Bloc and later moved to the Congress in the late 70s before joining the Shiv Sena.

He was first elected to the state assembly from Yavatmal in 1962. His membership was suspended when he threw the paper weight at the assembly speaker over the issue of a separate Vidarbha. He again won in 1967. Later he had contested the Lok Sabha elections from Nagpur in 1972 and won it by defeating Congress veteran Rikhab Chandra Sharma.

Dhote contested the 1980 Lok Sabha elections from Nagpur as a Congress candidate and won it by a handsome margin. He later left the Congress and floated Vidarbha Janata Congress.

Dhote was the son-in-law of veteran Congress leader and former deputy chief minister, the late Ramrao Adik. His wife, Vijaya was also a Congress legislator from Yavatmal.