Former UP and Uttarakhand CM ND Tiwari dies on his 93rd birthday

New Delhi: Narayan Dutt Tiwari, veteran politician and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, passed away at a hospital in Delhi on Thursday after prolonged illness. 

It was Tiwari’s 93rd birthday today.

Tiwari was admitted to Saket’s Max hospital in Delhi and died at 2:50 pm, news agency PTI reported quoting doctors.           

According to reports, the veteran politician was admitted to the hospital in September last year after he suffered a brain stroke. 

On October 26, he was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. He was suffering from fever and pneumonia.

Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat expressed grief of the demise of the senior leader.

“Tiwari-ji’s contribution to Uttarakhand can never be forgotten. He played a key role in giving pace to the financial and industrial development of the newly formed Uttarakhand, and helped the state to stand up on its feet,” Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat tweeted.

President Ram Nath Kovind condoled ND Tiwari’s demise and said that the former UP and Uttarakhand chief minister “contributed much to development and public welfare”.

Expressing sorrow on the passing away of Tiwari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a “towering leader” who “was known for his administrative skills”.

Saddened by the passing away of Shri ND Tiwari Ji. A towering leader, he was known for his administrative skills. He will be remembered for his efforts towards industrial growth & working for the progress of UP & Uttarakhand, a state he steered in its initial days. My condolences

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also condoled the demise of the leader.

 ND Tiwari is the only politician in India to have served as chief minister of two states, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for three times before Uttarakhand was carved out of the state.

Tiwari joined the Congress party in 1963 and first became chief minister of UP in 1976. In 1984, he became the chief minister of UP for second time. Tiwari came back to power in UP for the third time in 1988.

In 2002, Tiwari became chief minister of Uttarakhand when Congress came to power in the first election held in the hill state which was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000.

Tiwari also served as governor of Andhra Pradesh between 2007 and 2009 when he had to resign after a sting operation showed him in a compromising position at Raj Bhavan with three women. However, he had cited poor health as the reason for his resignation.