Senior BJP leader Daulatrao Aher passes away

Former Maharashtra health minister and Senior BJP leader Dr Daulatrao Aher died here today following prolonged illness.
He was 74.
An ENT surgeon, Aher passed away at around 3 AM at his residence here, his younger brother Dr Balasaheb Aher said.
Hailing from Nashik's Devla taluka, he was the state health minister from 1995-99 in the then Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government.
He was also as a Member of Parliament from Nashik constituency in 1989-1991 and was elected MLA from Nashik for three terms -- 1985-90, 1995-99 and 1999-2004.
Aher was the chairman of Nashik's leading educational institute Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj, and also associated with several other social organisations.

After the Congress-NCP government came to power in the state, he left BJP and joined NCP. However, he did not stay in the NCP for long and later rejoined BJP.

Nashik Mayor Ashok Murtadak, former state social welfare minister Babanrao Gholap, and leaders of various political parties visited his home on Gangapur road today and paid homage to the departed leader.
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Later in the evening, the mortal remains of Aher were
consigned to flames at his hometown, Devla, near Nashik in the presence of a large number of people, Maharashtra ministers, BJP leaders, the party's MLAs and Aher's supporters.

Aher's son Rahul, MLA from Chandwad constituency in Nashik district, lit the funeral pyre.
Ministers Eknath Khadse and Girish Mahajan also attended the funeral, which took place in the premises of Vasantdada Patil Cooperative Sugar factory with which the Aher family has been associated for long.