Hyderabad, July 28: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader, Jaipal Reddy, passed away in Hyderabad on Sunday. He was 77. Sources close to him informed that Reddy died at a hospital at 1.28 am on Sunday. According to reports, the 77-year-old leader was recently diagnosed with pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital. Reddy's funeral would take place on Monday, the sources said. The senior Congress leader has been a parliamentarian for several decades and held key portfolios in various governments. Reddy was a four-term MLA, member of Lok Sabha for five terms and member of Rajya Sabha for two terms. Sheila Dikshit, Congress Stalwart, Dies at 81.

Reddy was the information and broadcasting minister in IK Gujral government. During the UPA-1 government he held portfolios like urban development and culture. Later, in UPA-2, Reddy was again given the urban development ministry. He, later, became the minister of petroleum and natural gas but was shifted to the science and technology and earth sciences ministries, creating a political storm.

The Congress took to Twitter and expressed the loss. "We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Union Minister Jaipal Reddy. A senior Congress leader, he served as an LS MP 5 times, an RS MP 2 times and as an MLA 4 times. We hope his family and friends find strength in their time of grief", the tweet read.

Here's the tweet:

Congress' Telangana unit chief Uttam Kumar Reddy also tweeted saying, "Deeply saddened and pained by the sudden demise of Jaipal Raddy".

Here's the tweet:

Describing the party veteran as an outstanding orator, great human being and intellectual giant, he further added saying that its a huge personal loss to him and the entire Congress party.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 28, 2019 08:13 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).