Just elected, first-time Cong MLA in Guj loses battle for life

A newly elected Congress MLA died Friday, a day after she was declared the winner from Morva-Hadaf constituency in the Panchmahals district.

Savitaben Khant died at a private hospital in Vadodara where she was admitted after suffering brain haemorrhage.

Khant complained of severe headache Thursday morning while she was on her way to the vote counting centre at Morva Hadaf.

"She was taken to the local doctor where she also suffered paralytic attack, after which she went into coma. Doctor there referred us to Vadodara hospital," her husband and taluka Congress president Vechatbhai Khant said.

Doctors at Vadodara's Banker's Heart Institute, where she was admitted, said she was brought to the hospital in comatose state and remained in coma since then. They said her condition started deteriorating Friday morning and she was declared dead around 11:40 am.

This was the first time the 52-year-old Khant had contested elections. Morva Hadaf, a new constituency formed after delimitation, is reserved for scheduled tribes. Khant had defeated BJP's Vijal Damor by a margin of 11,289 votes. The results were declared while she was battling for life at the hospital.

"She was perfectly fine until Thursday morning and was confident of winning the elections. She had worked very hard, attending several meetings and visiting villages for canvassing," her husband said.

Senior state Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil visited Khant's house at Godhra and expressed condolence over her sudden demise.

A funeral procession was taken out at Godhra, which was attended by over a thousand Congress workers and supporters. Later, Gohil said in a press release that Khant was a dedicated social worker.

With Khant's sudden death, the Congress tally in the newly elected Assembly has come down to 60.

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