look news india
News India Live, Digital Desk: This morning brought a sad news for Pune and Indian politics. Suresh Kalmadi, a veteran Congress leader and once counted among the most powerful people in the world of Indian sports, is no more with us. He breathed his last at the age of 81. Kalmadi was suffering from age-related ailments for quite some time and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Pune.
Whenever the name of Indian sports and especially ‘Commonwealth Games’ is mentioned, the face of Suresh Kalmadi definitely comes to mind. There was a time when his voice was heard from Delhi to Pune. The people there still remember his role in the development of Pune city. Kalmadi, a three-time Pune MP and Rajya Sabha member, spent a long time in politics.
Not only politics, Kalmadi also had a very strong hold on Indian sports. As President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), he led the Games for many years. However, there were many ups and downs in his career. Due to controversies related to the Commonwealth Games, he had to face a lot of difficulties and even had to go to jail, but his stature never diminished on the political stage.
For the last few years, he was away from the glare of politics. His deteriorating health was confining him to his home. When the news of his demise came today, his memories became fresh in the eyes of old colleagues and workers. Politics has its place, but as a personality, Kalmadi’s departure has created a big void in the politics of Maharashtra and the country.
His fans and people of Pune are paying tribute with tearful eyes on social media. Indeed, a very popular chapter of sports and politics along with Suresh Kalmadi has closed forever today.