Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Behror and former Rajasthan cabinet minister Jaswant Yadav died in Jaipur on Sunday morning after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 73.
Yadav died at 8.15 am, his son Mohit Yadav confirmed in a social media post. He was the sitting legislator from Behror and had previously represented Alwar in the Lok Sabha.
Announcing his father's death, Mohit wrote: "It is with profound sorrow that I inform you that my revered father, Dr Jaswant Yadav ji, the current MLA from Behror, former Cabinet Minister in the Rajasthan government, and former MP from Alwar, is no longer with us."
He described his father as a great soul, adding that his affection, simplicity and commitment to society would continue to remain in people's memories.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot also expressed their condolences following the veteran BJP leader's death.
Four-time MLA and former Alwar MP
Yadav had a long political career spanning the state Assembly and Parliament. He was elected as an MLA four times and represented Alwar in the Lok Sabha between 1999 and 2004.
He entered electoral politics in 1998, winning the Assembly election from Mundawar. A year later, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Alwar.
He subsequently shifted his political base to Behror, winning the Assembly constituency in 2008 and 2013. After a gap, he returned to the Rajasthan Assembly in 2023, defeating the sitting independent MLA Baljeet Yadav.
Yadav also served as a zila pramukh in Alwar during the mid-1990s. Under the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government, he held several ministerial responsibilities and served as a cabinet minister from 2016 to 2018.
Behror seat falls vacant, by-election expected
Yadav's death has reduced the strength of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly to 199. A by-election to the Behror constituency is expected to be held within six months to fill the vacancy.
The BJP leader's mortal remains will be kept at his residence in Jaswant Nagar, Alwar, for public homage after 4 pm on Sunday, according to his family.
His last rites will be performed at his native village, Silpata, in Khairthal-Tijara district at 3 pm on Monday, November 9.