Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Ajit Pawar) Maharashtra State General Secretary, President of Maa Vaishnavi Shikshan Sanstha and Director of Shanti Vidya Bhavan High School and Jewish College in Digdoh Dilip Manikrao Pankule passed away on Thursday at 11.45 am at his residence in Surve Nagar due to cardiac arrest. He was 75. Pankule leaves behind survived by wife Sushma Dilip Pankule, sons Sangram and Sudarshan, as well as grandchildren and extended family. Dilip Pankule’s passing away is being mourned from all quarters.

 

Last rites will be performed on Friday at 9.30 am at Ambazari ghat at Nagpur. Pankule had participated in a programme organised on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi earlier in the morning. He had joined party functionaries in paying floral tributes to Gandhi. After returning home with some party office-bearers, Pankule suffered a severe heart attack and died shortly thereafter. His sudden demise has cast a pall of gloom over political and social circles in Nagpur. NCP leaders and workers expressed deep grief over his death. NCP Nagpur Working President Shrikant Shivankar termed Pankule’s death as deeply painful and shocking. Pankule served as the Nagpur city president of the NCP for several years and was Corporator twice. Pankule had also contested the Nagpur South-West Assembly constituency election as the official NCP candidate.