Former West Bengal Governor and industrialist Viren J Shah died in Jordan today following a heart attack.
He was 86.
Shah was on a holiday to Jordan with his wife when he suffered the heart attack. His body will be brought back to Mumbai, where he lived, for cremation, family sources said.
Shah was elected to Parliament from Junagadh in Gujarat in 1967 and was also member of the Rajya Sabha twice from 1975 to 1981 and from 1990 to 1996. He was the Governor of West Bengal from 1999 to 2004.
He was the former Chairman and Managing Director of Mukund Limited, engaged in steel business, and held the position for 27 years from 1972 to 1999.
He was also the former treasurer of BJP.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the demise of Viren Shah. Expressing his sadness at the loss of a former Parliamentary colleague and a close friend, the Prime Minister said that he was a "distinguished Parliamentarian who also rendered invaluable service in the field of industry and commerce".
Singh also recalled his tenure as Governor of West Bengal and said that "the country had lost a public figure of great distinction".
Shah was born in Calcutta on May 12, 1926 and was educated at Bombay University.
He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
The sources said his elder son Rajesh Shah, who is co- chairman and managing director of Mukund Limited, will be leaving for Jordan tomorrow to bring back the body.
