Former minister Pandurang Raut passes away

Bicholim: Former minister Pandurang Raut, 76, passed away in a private hospital on Monday morning following a brief illness.
He was cremated at Sal in Bicholim.
Prior to the final rites, Raut’s body was kept at his residence at Karaswada, Mapusa for citizens to pay their last respects.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant, BJP state president Sadanand Tanawade, former Union minister Ramakant Khalap, MLAs Digambar Kamat, Joshua D’Souza, Chandrakant Shetye, former speaker Rajesh Patnekar, former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar and others were present.
Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao along with Congress state president Amit Patkar visited Raut’s family.
Sawant said that Raut was a sincere MLA who initiated various schemes.
Raut was elected twice from Bicholim on the MGP ticket. In 2009, he had contested the parliamentary polls.