Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Shri Pandurang Pundalik Fundkar, alias Bhausaheb Fundkar, passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest on May 31 in Mumbai. He was 67. Shri Fundkar was the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Maharashtra unit between 1991 and 1996. He represented Akola parliamentary constituency three times. He was elected to the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha from Khamgaon in 1978 and 1980. He was also the leader of the Opposition in the legislative council.
Shri Fundkar a member of 9th Lok Sabha, 10th Lok Sabha and 11th Lok Sabha from Akola from Maharashtra. On July 8, 2016, he was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister in Devendra Fadnavis.
PM Modi said on his demise “Saddened by the demise of Maharashtra’s Agriculture Minister Shri Pandurang Fundkar. He made an invaluable contribution towards building the BJP in Maharashtra. He was also at the forefront of serving the farmers of the state. My thoughts are with his family and supporters.”
Expressing condolence on demise of the leader BJP national President said in tweet “Pained to know about the sudden demise of Shri Pandurang Fundkar ji,the Agriculture Minister of Maharashtra. He was a people’s leader & three time MP from Akola. Bhausaheb Fundkar worked tirelessly to spread BJP’s reach in Maharashtra, my condolences with his family & followers.” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recalled his late cabinet colleague’s contribution to the party and farmers’ development.