Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon has passed away in the wee hours of Tuesday after battling a prolonged illness. He was 85 and his son Ashutosh Tandon took to Twitter and confirmed the demise of the former.

Lalji Tandon was suffering from prolonged ailments with difficulties in breathing and urination and fever. He was admitted to a private hospital in Lucknow on June 11 for higher treatments. He was under the ventilator support and the hospital said that he was in a critical state, as he was battling the ailments.

However, his health went deteriorating and he was declared dead at the hospital in the wee hours of Tuesday. Ashutosh Tandon tweeted "Babuji is no more". He further said that the body would be taken to Gulala Ghat Chowk in Lucknow at 4 pm where the last rituals will take place.

Ashutosh appealed to the people to pay their respects and tributes from their home in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak and lockdown. He called the public to adhere to the rules and regulations imposed by the government and pay respects from home as this would help in observing the physical distancing. 

After the news of his death broke out, Central leaders and ministers have been paying their condolences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and said "Shri Lalji Tandon will be remembered for his untiring efforts to serve society. He played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. He made a mark as an effective administrator, always giving importance of public welfare. Anguished by his passing away."

Shri Lalji Tandon was well-versed with constitutional matters. He enjoyed a long and close association with beloved Atal Ji.

In this hour of grief, my condolences to the family and well-wishers of Shri Tandon. Om Shanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 21, 2020

"Shri Lalji Tandon was well-versed with constitutional matters. He enjoyed a long and close association with beloved Atal Ji. In this hour of grief, my condolences to the family and well-wishers of Shri Tandon. Om Shanti." the Prime Minister added. 

The treating hospital said that he was put on life support system and the team of medical experts had made all the efforts for his survival. However, he breathed his last at 5.35 am on Tuesday. According to the reports, Lalji Tandon was the 22nd Governor of Madhya Pradesh. Owing to his hospitalization and ailment, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has taken additional charge of the Governor of Madhya Pradesh last month.

Born on April 12, 1935, Lalji Tandon was a protege of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In his five decades of a political career,  Tandon has served in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council for two terms from 1978 to 1984. He also served as the Member of Legislative Assembly in Uttar Pradesh for three terms between 1996 to 2009. He also served as MP in the 15th Lok Sabha.

He was appointed as the Governor of Bihar between August 2018 and July 2019 after which he was appointed as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh. His son Ashutosh Tandon has been serving as the cabinet minister in Uttar Pradesh.