Pune: Former MLA from Amravati constituency and the first gentleman of India Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat passed away at the age of 89 at a private hospital in Pune following a heart attack, sources close to the family said. He was admitted to KEM hospital a few days back due to cardiac issues, they said.

“He passed away at 9 am today due to a heart attack,” a source said.
Mr. Shekhawat is survived by his wife Pratibha Patil and two children – Rajendra Singh Shekhawat (son) and Jyoti Rathod (daughter). The last rites will be performed at the Vaikunthdham crematorium around 7 pm, the source said.

KEM hospital said in its statement: He recently had a fall resulting in hospitalization for fracture fixation. During recovery, he had cardiac symptoms and was also diagnosed with a chest infection and was shifted here. His health deteriorated as he developed kidney complications and he passed away around 9.30 am on February 24.

Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat was a lecturer in Chemistry when he got married to Pratibha Patil in 1965. He was awarded a PhD from the University of Mumbai in 1972.