UP MLA among 5 dead in road mishap

Tribune News Service

Lucknow/Jaipur, February 21

The BJP MLA representing Nurpur in Bijnore, Lokendra Singh Chauhan, and four others died in a road accident in Sitapur district early this morning. The accident occurred at Kakaiyapara village on the National Highway-24 when the MLA, 35, was headed towards Lucknow in his SUV to attend the Investors Summit, which was to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The driver of the Fortuner reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which, according to witnesses, jumped the divider and landed on the other side of the road, crashing into a speeding truck. While the MLA and his two gunners died on the spot, his personal assistant and the driver succumbed to injuries at the Sitapur district hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in separate messages expressed their grief and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Rajasthan BJP MLA passes away

BJP MLA from Nathdwara Assembly constituency in Rajasthan, Kalyan Singh Choudhary, passed away after a protracted illness of cancer at Udaipur’s hospital in the wee hours of Wednesday. He was 55. The Rajasthan Assembly was adjourned for the day after passing an obituary reference and observing two-minute silence. Choudhary had defeated Congress stalwart CP Joshi by one vote in the 2008 Assembly polls. Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh and CM Vasundhara Raje condoled his death.