Mangaluru: Oscar Fernandes, Former Union Minister, Sitting Members of Rajya Sabha and Trust Aide Family Gandhi, died in a private hospital in Mangaloru on Monday.
The 80-year-old congress veteran was hospitalized in July after he suffered falling while exercising, which led to complications.
The funeral will be held in Bengaluru on Thursday.
For almost four decades, Fernandes was calculated among the closest to the people closest to Gandhis, especially the Interim President AICC Sonia Gandhi.
AFFABIL, Soft-oral and unpleasant, Fernandes rose in the party ranking as a hardcore organization man and is known to attract long working hours, often stretching the night, even as minister.
He may be the only other carnataka-based politician, regardless of the BJP who was late HN Ananth Kumar, to enjoy Delhi’s term and became an integral part of the circle in the national party leadership at a young age.
The handsel by Sanjay Gandhi, he then became a parliamentary secretary for night at night Rajiv Gandhi, and also worked with Sonia and Rahul.
Always comfortable behind the scenes, Fernandes climbed the stairs during the Rajiv period.