BJP MP from Palghar Chintaman Wanaga passes away, PM Modi condoles his death

Three-time BJP MP from Maharashtra's Palghar Chintaman Wanaga passed away in Delhi today, said doctors at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. He was 67.

He is survived by four children - two sons and two daughters. 

He was brought dead to the hospital around 11.15 am after collapsing at home.

"He was brought to RML Hospital around 11.15 am. We tried to resuscitate him for 30 minutes but he could not be revived.

He was declared brought dead at around 11.45 am," the hospital's medical superintendent, Dr V K Tiwary, told PTI.

The cause of the death is being investigated, sources added.

Wanaga, who was born on June 1, 1950 in Talasari, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Palghar in Maharashtra. 

An advocate by profession, he was first elected to the Parliament in 1996 and then again in 1999 and 2014. He was also a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 2009 to 2014. 

He was a member of Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Standing Committee on Rural Development and Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture.

An influential local leader, he was a grassroot worker of the BJP and served as its Thane district president from 1990-96.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his death saying he did "commendable work for the welfare of tribals." 

"Pained by the unfortunate demise of my colleague and MP from Palghar, Shri Chintaman Wanaga. He played an important role in building the BJP in the Thane region and did commendable work for the welfare of tribals. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this sad hour," Modi said. 

Union Minister Suresh Prabhu was among those who paid tribute to Wanaga. 

“MP from Palghar (Mah) my dear friend, Long time colleague Chintaman Wanaga sadly passes away, due to massive heart attack. Condolences RIP,”  Prabhu tweeted.

(With PTI inputs)