Former governor of Bengal & Bihar Keshari Nath Tripathi dies; PM Modi, other leaders condole death

Former Governor of West Bengal, Bihar and two other states Keshari Nath Tripathi died at his Prayagraj home in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. Tripathi, a senior BJP leader, was 88.

The veteran politician, who was a three-time speaker of the UP Legislative Assembly, was hospitalised for a fractured hand as well as old-age-related ailments and breathing issues, a party leader said."Tripathiji was in the ICU for a short while and his condition has improved following which he was brought home. Today at around 5 AM he breathed his last," the official told PTI over the phone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his sorrow and described Tripathi as the key man in building the saffron party in UP.

"Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi Ji was respected for his service and intellect. He was well versed in Constitutional matters. He played a key role in building BJP in UP and worked hard for the state's progress. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," Modi tweeted.

Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi Ji was respected for his service and intellect. He was well versed in Constitutional matters. He played a key role in building BJP in UP and worked hard for the state’s progress. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/mQqirPTPvy

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 8, 2023

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed condolences on the passing away of the veteran leader.

भाजपा के वरिष्ठ नेता व पूर्व राज्यपाल पं केशरी नाथ त्रिपाठी जी के निधन की सूचना से दुखी हूँ। उत्तर प्रदेश में पार्टी के संगठन को जमीन पर मजबूत करने और गरीब व वंचित वर्ग के कल्याण के प्रति वें जीवन भर समर्पित रहे। ईश्वर उन्हें अपने श्री चरणों में स्थान दे। ॐ शांति

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 8, 2023

BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda and Vice-President Baijayant Jay Panda paid rich tributes to Keshari Nath Tripathi.

वरिष्ठ राजनेता, पश्चिम बंगाल के पूर्व राज्यपाल, हम सभी के प्रेरणा स्रोत आदरणीय केशरी नाथ त्रिपाठी जी के निधन का समाचार अत्यंत दुःखद है।

मैं शोक-संतप्त परिजनों के प्रति गहन संवेदनाएं प्रकट करता हूँ व ईश्वर से दिवंगत आत्मा की शांति के लिए प्रार्थना करता हूँ।

ॐ शांति!

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 8, 2023

भाजपा के वरिष्ठ नेता, उत्तर प्रदेश विधानसभा के पूर्व अध्यक्ष, पश्चिम बंगाल के पूर्व राज्यपाल, संविधान विशेषज्ञ पंडित केशरी नाथ त्रिपाठी जी का निधन अत्यंत दु:खद है।

राष्ट्र एवं जनसेवा को समर्पित आपका जीवन प्रेरणास्रोत रहा है। हमारी संवेदनाएं शोकाकुल परिजनों के साथ हैं।
ॐ शांति🙏 pic.twitter.com/tDvmkTYwb0

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) January 8, 2023

Born on November 10, 1934, in Allahabad, Tripathi served as the Governor of West Bengal from July 2014 to July 2019. Before that, he also had additional charges for short stints as the Governor of Bihar, Meghalaya and Mizoram.

He was a member of the UP legislative assembly six times and was the Cabinet minister of institutional finance and sales tax in the state during the Janata Party regime from 1977 to 1979.

A poet and author, Tripathi had practised as a senior advocate at Allahabad High Court and was the BJP president in UP for some time.