BJP Unjha MLA Dr Ashaben Patel is no more. She breathed her last at a city hospital, on Sunday, following dengue-related complications. She was 44 and remained single.
A retired college professor, Ashaben was an executive member of Umiya Mataji Sansthan in Unjha, the religious seat of the Kadva Patidar sect of the Patidar community. In fact, she has been an active crusader for the community’s reservation in educational institutions and jobs. Dr Patel won the Unjha seat as a Congress candidate in 2017, defeating six-time BJP MLA and former minister Narayan Patel. Later, she joined the BJP and was re-elected from the same constituency with a lead of 23,072 votesin a by-election held in 2019.
The picture taken is from the Dec 6 Shatabdi Mahotsav meet in Delhi with Prime Minister Modi. Shortly after return from the capital, she developed fever and was diagnosed with dengue. She was treated at a local hospital in Unjha however, when her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to Zydus Hospital. Earlier this year, she had contracted Covid as well.
Born on January 6, 1954, Dr Patel, held a post-graduate degree in Science and a PhD in Chemistry from Hemchandra Acharya University.