Nandurbar, 24 Dec (HS): Veteran Congress leader and

a [popular leader among the tribal-dominated Nandurbar and Dhule districts Surupsingh

Naik, passed away due to old age On Wednesday. He was 88.

Born on September 10, 1938 in a small village

Navapur, he started his political career as a Sarpanch of Sukvel Gram Panchayat

in 10962 and Dhule Zilla Parishad member in 1065. He got elected to the Lok

Sabha in 1980 with a huge margin of votes.

A staunch supporter of Gandhi family, he handled

several ministries in Maharashtra Government. He was defeated by Sharad Gavit

in 2009 Assembly elections. However, he got re-elected defeating Gavit in 2014.

He withdrew from active politics in 2019, handing over the leadership to his

son Shirish Naik.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar