Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Tuesday cancelled his Ayodhya trip hours after the death of Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon.

Taking to Twitter, he said, “Due to the death of Madhya Pradesh Governor and senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon, I am cancelling my Ayodhya visit today.”

आज आदरणीय बाबूजी जी के रूप में हम सभी कार्यकर्ताओं ने अपने अभिभावक को खोया है जिसकी कमी पार्टी में सदियों तक पूरी नहीं की जा सकती है। pic.twitter.com/wdB8DFoxUc

— Keshav Prasad Maurya (@kpmaurya1) July 21, 2020

Earlier in the day, the 88-year old Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon passed away after a prolonged illness. He was admitted to hospital, after complaints of breathing problems, fever, and difficulty in urinating.

Tandon’s son Ashutosh Tandon announced the demise of his father on Twitter.

Tandon’s son said the body would be taken to Gulala Ghat Chowk at 4 pm, where the last rites would be performed.

He also requested the public to pay their respects from home due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Keeping in mind the coronavirus pandemic, I request you to follow rules and regulations announced by the administration and pay your tributes to my father from your own houses. This will help in maintaining the social distancing as well,” Ashutosh tweeted.

About Lalji Tandon

In his career spanning five decades, Tandon served in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council for two terms from 1978 to 1984, and 1990-1996; as an MLA in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly for three terms between 1996 to 2009; as MP in the 15th Lok Sabha; and Governor of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.