Patna: A newly-elected lawmaker in Bihar died hours before he was due to take oath in the State Assembly, along with 242 other legislators.
As a tribute to Basant Kushwaha, the first day of the new assembly was adjourned by the Protem Speaker Sadanand Singh without transacting any business in the state Assembly.
Authorities said the lawmaker, who was elected on a Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) ticket from Harlakhi seat in Madhubani district, had complained of chest pain on Sunday after which he was admitted to a local private hospital.
However, he died on Monday morning, barely few hours before he was to be administered the oath of office. Doctors said he died of a heart attack.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed deep condolence over his death and said he would conduct his funeral with full state honours.
Several other ministers, such as deputy chief minister Tajashwi Prasad Yadav, Tej Patap Yadav and Shrawan Kumar also expressed grief over his death and paid floral tributes to the deceased.
Parliamentary affairs minister Shrawan Kumar said the bereaved family would be given the facilities entitled to a former lawmaker.
According to assembly officials, the first two days of the current session of the 16th assembly have been earmarked for oath-taking by 243 newly-elected lawmakers followed by election of the new Speaker in place of Uday Narayan Chaudhary who was defeated in the elections at the hands of his rival and Dalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind will address the joint session of the Bihar legislature on December 3.
