On March 29, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Girish Bapat passed away. He had been keeping unwell and was admitted to Dinanath Mangeshkar hospital in Pune. He had been under treatment for several days. The final rites on Bapat will be performed at 7:00 pm at Vaikunth crematorium.
BJP Maharashtra took to Twitter and shared their condolences.
पुण्याचा चेहरा म्हणून ओळख असलेल्या खासदार गिरीशभाऊ बापट यांचे वयाच्या ७३ व्या वर्षी दीर्घ आजाराने निधन झाले, ह्या दुःखद प्रसंगी संपूर्ण भाजप पक्ष बापट कुटुंबियांच्या सोबत आहे.
— भाजपा महाराष्ट्र (@BJP4Maharashtra) March 29, 2023
ओम शांती. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/rC14oaDYHF
As a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Pune in the 2019 Indian general election.
He had joined in an election campaign in Kasba despite his ill health.
This is what Loyalty & Commitment means for every BJP Karyakarta.
— Priti Gandhi - प्रीति गांधी (@MrsGandhi) February 16, 2023
5 times MLA & present MP, Shri Girish Bapat, despite being very ill & on oxygen support, is giving guidance to BJP cadre & participating in the election campaign in Kasba, Maharashtra. Hats off to his dedication!! pic.twitter.com/U6dMpdgDEc
He also exercised his right to vote at a polling booth in Kasba Peth. He had arrived with an oxygen cylinder.
#inspiration for many:
— Aman Sayyad (@journo_aman) February 26, 2023
Despite being not well, Senior BJP leader and Pune MP Girish Bapat Ji arrived with oxygen cylinder at a polling booth in kasba peth to excercise his voting right.#kasbabypollelection #Pune #PuneBypollElection #BJP. pic.twitter.com/QLNSoyt8y6
He did his bachelor's degree in commerce from B.M.C.C. College of Commerce in Pune, Maharashtra. In 1980, his political career began when he was appointed Secretary of the Pune City BJP.
He began his political career with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and was first elected to the Pune Municipal Corporation in a by-election in 1983 and won three subsequent terms.
Previously in the Maharashtra government, he served as Cabinet Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection, Food and Drugs Administration, and Parliamentary Affairs. Since 1995 in five consecutive elections, he has been elected to the Vidhan Sabha from Kasba Peth Constituency.
He was appointed Chairman of the Pune Municipal Corporation's Standing Committee, in 1986-87. For the first time in 1995, he was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. He was appointed Director of Krishna Valley Development Corporation in 1997.