Click to play videoNew Delhi: The BJP's man for all seasons and one of its most high-profile second generation leaders, Pramod Mahajan, is no more.
He died at Mumbai's Hinduja Hospital at about 1610 hrs (IST) on Wednesday evening.
Mahajan's condition had been deteriorating steadily over the past 24 hours. At about 1300 hrs (IST) on Wednesday, the senior BJP leader suffered multiple organ failure.
His kidneys and lungs stopped responding. He had suffered critical injuries in vital organs his liver and pancreas.
The doctors at the Hinduja Hospital, who had been treating him for the past 12 days, callled the family and said they had done whatever they could. The family was then allowed inside the ICU.
At about 1600 hrs (IST), BJP leader Sushma Swaraj briefed the media, saying everyone was hoping for a miracle - in a sense confirming everyone's worst fears.
Minutes later, the Hinduja Hospital confirmed that Pramod Mahajan, 57 was no more. Hospital chief executive officer Dr Pramod Lele said Mahajan breathed his last at 1610 hrs.
"It is with deep regret we have to announce that Pramod Mahajan, who had been battling for life for the last 12 days, succumbed to his bullet injuries," said Dr Pramod Lele, CEO, Hinduja Hospital.
"He was suffering from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome for the past four days, and that is what has caused his demise," said a senior doctor of the hospital.
Mahajan's body was kept at the BJP state headquarters at Nariman Point from 2000 hrs (IST) till late night for people to pay their last respects.
It was then taken for post mortem, during which the three bullets that were lodged in his body were removed. Mahajan was shot three times at point blank range by his brother Pravin.
Hundreds of BJP workers, politicians and supporters crowded into the Hinduja Hospital as the news of his death spread. Party leaders cutting across party lines have expressed their sorrow and disbelief at his untimely death.
There will be a state funeral for Mahajan in Mumbai on Thursday.
Mahajan was BJP's master strategist and trouble-shooter. He strode like a colossus on the country's political firmament.
The 56-year-old Mahajan, known for his managerial skills and political networking, was declared dead at the Hinduja Hospital here this afternoon.
Mahajan is survived by his wife Rekha, son Rahul and daughter Poonam.
The untimely death of the wily leader, who never shied away from taking adversaries head-on or courting controversies, shocked the nation with top leaders cutting across political lines hailing him as 'a youth icon and a charismatic leader imbued with exceptional organisational skills and an uncanny understanding of political realities'.
President APJ Abdul Kalam, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, several Cabinet ministers, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, BJP leaders L K Advani and Rajnath Singh and RSS chief K S Sudershan were among those who condoled the death of the BJP's trouble-shooter.
The mortal remains of Mahajan will be consigned to flames with full state honours at the Shivaji Park cremation ground in Dadar on Thursday.
Mr Advani has already reached Mumbai, while other leaders are on their way to the city for the funeral. Mr Shekhawat will also be present.
However, members of Pravin's family will not be attending the last rites. Pravin, who was today sent to judicial custody by a local court, has been informed of the death of his brother by the police and also by the jail authorities after he was moved there on Wednesday evening.
Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari said the funeral procession will start at 1000 hrs on Thursday from the residence of Mahajan at Worli where he was shot at in his 15th floor apartment at Poorna building.
As the news of BJP leader's death spread, the grief was palpable among hundreds of party workers and leaders who had gathered outside the hospital.
For Mahajan's many admirers and the huge contingent of mediamen that had kept a constant vigil at the hospital where
he was admitted after being shot by his brother Pravin 12 days ago, it was a sad ending to what had started off as a shocking incident.
Many BJP workers broke down and wept inconsolably on hearing of the death.
A pall of gloom also descended on Mahajan's residence, the Purna building at Sir Pochkanwala Road in the posh Worli area, which is also home to several other politicians.
Some key events of Pramod Mahajan’s life |
 Oct 30, 1949: He was born. |
| March 11, 1972: Got married. |
| 1975 - 1977: Jailed during Emergency |
| 1986: President, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha -- a youth wing of Bharatiya Janata Party. |
| 1986: Elected to Rajya Sabha for the first time. |
| 1992: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha. |
| 1996: First elected to Lok Sabha, Made Defence Minister of Vajpayee Govt. |
| 1998. Appointed advisor to Prime Minister Vajpayee. |
| July, 1998: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha. |
| Dec 1998: Became Minister for Information and Broadcasting. |
| Oct 1999: Became Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. |
| Nov 1999: Given charge of Information Technology. |
| 2001: Became Communications Minister. |
| 2003: Dropped from Union Cabinet, appointed BJP General Secretary. |
| 2003: Key BJP strategist in Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Assembly polls, where his party registered a resounding victory. |
| 2004 General Elections: Big thumb-down as BJP performed unexpectedly poorly. He was the key poll manager. Mahajan personally accepted responsibility for this defeat. |
The special prayers that were being held outside the Hinduja Hospital were stopped abruptly and security in the area was tightened following the official announcement of the 56-year-old BJP general secretary's death.
At the BJP headquarters in Delhi, the party flag was flown at half-mast and leaders paid their last respects to Mahajan.
The scene will now shift to the BJP state headquarters at Nariman Point, where Mahajan's body will be kept to enable party workers to pay their last respects.
During his 12 days at the hospital, Mahajan underwent three surgeries. He was constantly on ventilator and dialysis support.
Doctors conducted a bronchoscopy on him on Tuesday to identify the cause of his respiratory problems.
He suffered multiple-organ failure on Wednesday and stopped responding to treatment. All his vital organs were on artificial support system since April 22.
Mahajan's younger brother Pravin Mahajan shot at him thrice in the BJP leader's 14th floor flat in an apartment block in Worli. When his revolver jammed, Pravin surrendered at the Worli police station. He has allegedly told the police Mahajan ill-treated and humiliated him.
The bullets severed the main vein in Mahajan's abdomen, shattered the right side of the liver, the top of his pancreas and damaged the small intestine, doctors at Hinduja Hospital said.
Doctors managed to stop his liver from bleeding, but then Mahajan's kidneys started malfunctioning and he had to be put on dialysis.
Mahajan's family flew in an Australian ortho-trauma specialist to Mumbai to support the medical services offered to the BJP leader. There was also a British expert attending on Mahajan from day two.
Condolence messages are pouring in for the departed leader from all political parties. The party flag has been lowered at the BJP headquarters in Delhi.
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