Senior Congress leader Madhav Singh Solanki died at the age of 94 on Saturday morning. He was the former External Affairs Minister of India, who also served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for four times. The veteran leader breathed his last at his residence in Gandhinagar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the demise of the senior leader, “Shri Madhav Singh Solanki Ji was a formidable leader, playing a key role in Gujarat politics for decades. He will be remembered for his rich service to society. Saddened by his demise. Spoke to his son, Bharat Solanki Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti.”
“Beyond politics, Shri Madhav Singh Solanki Ji enjoyed reading and was passionate about culture. Whenever I would meet him or speak to him, we would discuss books and he would tell me about a new book he recently read. I will always cherish the interactions we had,” he said.
Solanki was a two-term MP of Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. He had been the longest-serving chief minister of the state before Narendra Modi became the CM. His son Bharatsinh Solanki is also a former Union minister.
Madhavsinh Solanki is known came to power in Gujarat in the 1980s on the KHAM (Kshatriya, Harijan, Adivasi, Muslim) formula. Before the 1980 election in Gujarat, Madhavsinh Solanki stitched the KHAM alliance to shift the power balance. He was a lawyer by profession.
Madhavsinh Solanki became the Gujarat chief minister for a brief time in 1976. In 1981, Madhavsinh Solanki again became the Chief Minister of Gujarat. As the Gujarat chief minister, Madhavsinh Solanki introduced the reservation for socially and economically backward classes.
Madhavsinh Solanki resigned in 1985 but later returned to power winning 149 out of 182 assembly seats.
