Bengaluru: In a tragic incident, BJP Rajya Sabha member from Raichur Ashok Gasti passed away at a hospital in the city. He was undergoing treatment for Covid-19.
He had taken oath as a Rajya Sabha member on July 12, but wasn’t able to attend any session.
Gasti, a lawyer by profession, tested positive for Covid-19 just 15 days ago, on September 2 and was, thereafter, admitted to Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru.
Those familiar with the developments informed that Gasti suffered from breathing issues and was on ventilator support.
He is the first Rajya Sabha MP from Savita Samaja, one of the most backward classes. He served as chairman of the Karnataka Backward Classes commission back in 2012.
The news of Gasti’s death has shocked the BJP and RSS leaders as he was considered as a staunch party loyalist.
Earlier in the evening, there were conflicting reports about the BJP leader’s health condition with the hospital administration saying that he was critical while other party leaders sent out condolences on his assumed demise.
