Bihar CM, JD(U) leaders condole demise of Rajya Sabha member & pharma tycoon Mahendra Prasad

PATNA: JD(U)’s Rajya Sabha member from Bihar and billionaire Pharma tycoon Mahendra Prasad (81) died at a private hospital in New Delhi around midnight on Sunday after battling a prolonged illness, his party said here on Monday.
Also known as ‘King Mahendra’ among his supporters, Prasad was a seven-term Rajya Sabha member from Bihar. His current term in the Rajya Sabha was scheduled to end in April, 2024.Before making his maiden entry in the Rajya Sabha in 1985, he was also elected to the Lok Sabha from Jehanabad parliamentary constituency in 1980 as Congress nominee. As he lost the 1984 parliamentary polls from Jehanabad, the Congress sent him to the Rajya Sabha. Later, he went to the Rajya Sabha as Lalu Prasad-led RJD’s nominee and CM Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) nominee. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha as JD(U) nominee for three consecutive terms in 2006, 2012 and 2018.
He was the founder of Aristo Pharmaceuticals.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and many other JD(U) leaders expressed deep condolences at the demise of their party’s sitting Rajya Sabha member.
In his condolence message, Nitish said Prasad was an established name in the area of Pharmaceutical business and was also an experienced politician. “Prasad was sociable and a person of good nature. His demise has caused an irreparable loss in the field of politics, social services and industries,” Nitish said in a statement issued here.
The CM spoke to Prasad’s brother Umesh Sharma alias Bhola Babu and his son Rajeev Sharma over the telephone and consoled both of them.
“On behalf of the JD(U), I send our deepest condolences to the family of the late Mahendra Prasad at this difficult time. The JD(U) mourns and remembers his devotion towards the party and people of Bihar,” JD(U) national general secretary Afaque Ahmad Khan said.
The Bihar unit of the JD(U) held a condolence meeting at the party headquarters here to mourn the demise of its sitting Rajya Sabha member. JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, state president Umesh Kushwaha, party’s chief whip in the council Sanjay Kumar Singh alias Gandhijee, state vice-president Navin Kumar Arya Chandravanshi, general secretary (headquarters) Mrityunjay Kumar Singh and many other JD(U) leaders participated in the condolence meet.