Kailashpati was an ideal Karyakarta, one of the builders of Jan Sangh and BJP.He inspired hundreds of party leaders
VETERAN BJP leader and former Governor of Gujarat, also of Rajasthan for some time during the same period, Kailashpati Mishra passed away in Patna on November 3. He was 89. A lifelong bachelor and Bihar’s Finance Minister between 1977 and 1980 in the Karpoori Thakur ministry, he was cremated with full state honour on November 4 evening. A founder member of the BJP, he was suffering from asthma for the past one year.
He was born at Dudharchak in Buxer in 1929. In 1980 he became the first BJP president in Bihar. He also served as BJP national vice president from 1995 to 2003. He had participated in Quit India Movement as a student.
Hearing the news of the passing away of Mishraji, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi visited his residence and paid floral tributes. “He was a man who dedicated his life to social work. With Mishraji’s passing away, an era comes to an end,” the CM said.
BJP national president Nitin Gadkari described Mishraji as a foundation stone of the Jan Sangh and BJP who expanded the party work in undivided Bihar. “Mishraji was a hardworking and inspirational leader, being a role model for lakhs of workers,” Shri LK Advani said after paying tributes to the 89-year-old leader. It has been due to sincere endeavour and commitment of leaders like Mishraji, who assiduously worked to strengthen the party since joining the Jan Sangh in 1969 that the BJP was ruling in nine states on its own or with allies. Mishra’s death has created a vacuum in the party, he said.
Shri Arun Jaitley, who along with BJP MP Ananth Kumar flew to Patna, described Mishraji as an inspirational leader and role model. Shri Anantha Kumar said the departed leader was a ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ of the party. The NDA convenor and JD(U) national president Shri Sharad Yadav said Mishraji had worked tirelessly to make the BJP a force at the state and national level. A wreath was also laid on the body of Mishra’s on behalf of the Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi reached Patna to pay emotional tribute to Kailashpati Mishra. He was received by prominent party leaders from Bihar including Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, state president Dr CP Thakur, former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Radha Mohan Singh at the airport. From the airport, Shri Modi drove straight to the late Mishraji’s residence where he met with family members and rendered a floral tribute to the departed soul. “Kailashpatiji was an inspiration to me and lakhs of party workers across the nation. His entire life was an example to us and his passing away is a huge loss to the party and the workers,” Shri Modi said adding that Mishraji acted as a bridge between the Gujarat Government and the Centre.
In his tribute actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha said the death of Mishraji was a personal loss to him as Mishraji had trained him in politics. “His death is a personal loss to me as he was my guide and guru. BJP patriach Shri LK Advani had asked Mishraji to train me in politics and he took special care of me while doing so,” Shri Sinha who is BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Saheb said. Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Bihar Congress chief Chaudhary Mehaboob Ali Kaiser and RJD state president Ramchandra Purve also condoled his death.
Leaders from various parties, including Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, LJP national president Ram Vilas Paswan and state BJP president CP Thakur, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, several MPs and legislators of the BJP and the JD-U were present at the crematorium during the cremation. As announced earlier, the funeral was performed with full state honour. The state government declared one-day ‘state mourning’ on November 4 throughout Bihar in the honour of Mishraji for his “distinguished contribution in the public life during the last seven decades”.
The national flag flew at half-mast in all government offices in the state as a mark of respect to the departed leader, a communique issued from state government said.
