Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday expressed grief over the death of senior Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Manjalpur MLA Yogesh Patel, describing him as a leader whose simplicity and dedication to public service earned him a lasting place in the hearts of people and party workers.
In a post on social media platform X, Shah paid tribute to Patel, who served as a legislator for eight consecutive terms and was among the most senior members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.
“The demise of Yogeshbhai Patel, senior Gujarat BJP leader and MLA from Vadodara’s Manjalpur constituency, is deeply saddening. A legislator for eight consecutive terms, Yogeshbhai’s simple nature easily endeared him to everyone he met,” Shah said.
He said Patel had played an active role on multiple fronts, whether in expanding the BJP’s organisational base in the state or addressing public concerns.
“Be it strengthening the organisation in the region or resolving people’s issues, Yogeshbhai remained active on every front and created an indelible identity for himself in the hearts of people and party workers,” the Home Minister said.
Shah added that the entire BJP family stood with Patel’s family during the difficult time and prayed for strength for his relatives and supporters to bear the loss.
The Home Minister’s remarks came as tributes continued to pour in from across the political spectrum following Patel’s death.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a “true people’s leader” and said he had lost a unique companion from his public life.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and BJP state president Jagdish Vishwakarma also expressed condolences.
Yogesh Patel was one of the BJP’s most prominent faces in Vadodara and had represented the city in the Gujarat Assembly for decades.
He first entered the Assembly from the Raopura constituency and later represented Manjalpur after constituency delimitation.
His electoral success spanned eight consecutive Assembly terms, making him one of Gujarat’s longest-serving legislators.
Known for his grassroots connections and organisational experience, Patel remained an influential figure in both electoral politics and party affairs.
Following the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, he was appointed pro-tem Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, a role traditionally entrusted to one of the House’s most senior members.