Lakhimpur Kheri, September 30: BJP MLA from Nighasan, Patel Ram Kumar Verma, passed away Sunday at a hospital in Lucknow after prolonged illness.

He was 64. District BJP president Sharad Bajpai said he died in a private hospital in Lucknow on Sunday. Patel was the PWD (Public Works Department) minister in 1991 and cooperative minister in 1997 in UP.

"Last rituals of the deceased leader would be held on Monday at his native village of Odraha in Mohammadi tehsil," he said. Condoling the death of the MLA, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Verma was a dedicated public representative, and he was concerned for the development of his area and addressing the grievances of the people. His death has led to the loss of a committed leader of the party."