BJP MLA, former Goa deputy CM Francis D'Souza dies at 64

BJP MLA and former Goa Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza died on Thursday evening.

After undergoing surgery for cancer in the USA, D'Souza, 64, was undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

Francis D'Souza died at the hospital where he was being treated said state BJP spokesman Damodar Naik.

"We lost an iconic leader who started his career from scratch as councilor and rose to a topmost post," Naik said.

"He is an icon for all the upcoming leaders as to how a person should be, and he was loyal to the party till his last breath," he added.

With the MLAs death, the BJP's strength in the 40-member Goa assembly has come down to 13.

"I am deeply saddened by the news. I extend my deepest sympathies to his family. May the departed soul be at peace," said South Goa BJP MP Narendra Sawaikar on Twitter.

When he was being treated in the United States, D'Souza had been dropped from the current Manohar Parrikar-led Goa government, along with Pandurang Madkaikar on medical grounds.

Francis D'Souza was elected to Goa Legislative Assembly in 1999 as Goa Rajiv Congress party candidate, and joined the BJP and was elected to the assembly in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 from Mapusa.

He was appointed deputy Chief Minister when BJP formed a government in 2012 under Manohar Parrikar's leadership. He continued in that post in the Laxmikant Parsekar-led cabinet too.