3 minutes of readingBombayUpdated: January 18, 2026 08:50 pm IST
Former BJP minister and party leader Raj K Purohit passed away at a private hospital in Mumbai on Sunday. He was 71 years old.
Groomed for right-wing politics since the days of Jana Sangha, five-term MLA Purohit hailed from Rajasthan and won Bombay your home and workplace. He was elected from Mumbadevi Assembly constituency from 1990 to 2009. His last term was in Colaba from 2014 to 2019.
Known as a warm and friendly person not only within the BJP but also among rival parties, Purohit rubbed shoulders with Congress and NCP leaders with ease, maintaining cordial equations. He was the president of the Mumbai BJP from September 2010 to June 2013 and was proactive as the chief of the state legislative assembly from 2014 to 2019.
Purohit, BJP’s face in north India, was among the prominent leaders representing south Mumbai. The redevelopment of Mumbadevi complete with basic infrastructure and amenities like the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor or the Ujjain Mahakal was a project he pursued tirelessly with the state government since 2014-15.
In 2019, when the BJP denied him a ticket from Colaba, he was disappointed, but that never stopped him from working for the party.
Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisIn his condolence message from Davos, he said: “He was part of our parivar, friendly, caring, always at the forefront to serve the organisation. A firm and committed leader, Raj Purohit had served as party chief with absolute dedication.”
Leaders of all political parties described Purohit as a leader who understood organizational processes and had an excellent grassroots network. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, “His penchant for taking up issues related to Mumbai was surprising. He studied the issues thoroughly.”
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Terming Purohit’s demise as shocking, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde posted on
Purohit was considered the greatest “messiah” for migrant tenants living in Mumbai and had worked all his life for their upliftment, Tawde said, adding: “His demise is an irreparable loss for the BJP in Maharashtra and for me personally.”
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari remembers how Purohit raised issues with padgi and rental systems. In the recently concluded Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Raj Purohit’s son and BJP leader Akash Purohit won from ward number 221.