Himachal Pradesh BJP MLA Narinder Bragta passes away

SHIMLA: Narinder Bragta, senior BJP leader, former minister and chief whip in state government, died at PGI Chandigarh on Saturday morning.
Bragta tested positive for Covid-19 on April 13 and had recovered, but he was taken to PGI, Chandigarh later when his health deteriorated.
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, who had enquired about the health of Bragta on Friday by visiting PGI, has expressed his condolences and said that with Bragta's demise the party has lost an honest and dedicated leader.
Bragta’s elder son Chetan Bragta informed through social media about his demise.
Bragta who was MLA from Jubbar-Kotkhai assembly constituency of Shimla district, was born on September 15, 1952 in Shimla. He was a post graduate in Political Science from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and was married to Pushpa Bragta and has two sons.
He was first elected to Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly in 1998 from Shimla constituency; re-elected in December, 2007 from Jubbal-Kotkhai.
He had remained minister of state for horticulture (independent charge) from 1998 to 2002; and horticulture, technical education and health minister from December 30, 2007 to December 2012.
Bragta was re-elected to the thirteenth Vidhan Sabha (third term) in December, 2017 and was nominated as chairman of Public Under Undertakings; and Member, Rules and Library & Member, Amenities Committees.
He was appointed as the chief whip of state government in September 2018 with the rank of a cabinet minister.