Pune: Former Solapur mayor and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) leader Mahesh Kothe died of a heart attack while taking a bath in the Maha Kumbh at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj on Tuesday. This information has been shared by his close friend. Mahesh Kothe was 60 years old. This tragic incident happened on Tuesday morning at around 7.30 am during the bath in the Maha Kumbh when he was taking a dip during the Amrit Snan at the Triveni Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati river.

His close friend said, "Kothe had gone to take a holy dip at the Maha Kumbh at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj (on Makar Sankranti). He suffered a heart attack in the river water. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead."

Family includes wife and a son 

According to the information, Kothe's body will be brought to Solapur on Wednesday for the last rites. Kothe contested the assembly elections from Solapur (North) on November 20 against BJP's Vijay Deshmukh, but he had to face defeat. Kothe is survived by his wife and a son. It is extremely cold in Prayagraj. Saints from various akhadas took the first Amrit bath in the Maha Kumbh on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. On Tuesday, 3.50 crore devotees took a dip in the Triveni Sangam.

Sharad Pawar tweeted

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar condoled Kothe's death. He wrote on 'X', "My old colleague Mahesh Kothe passed away in Prayagraj. Mahesh Kothe had a significant influence on the social and political scene of Solapur city. With his demise, Solapur has lost a dynamic and dedicated worker. We all stand with the Kothe family in this hour of grief. Heartfelt condolences!"