Kerala Governor Sikander Bakht passed away at the Medical College Hospital here late this evening. He was 85. Bakht was hospitalised on Thursday following pain in the lower abdomen. He had undergone a surgery for intestinal block. His condition worsened yesterday afternoon following viral infection and he was put on ventilator.His condition deteriorated further later this evening following two-cardiac arrests and he died around 9.30 pm, hospital sources said. Bakth is survived by his wife Raj S. Bakht, sons Anil and Sunil. Born on August 24, 1918, in Delhi, Bakht was a Delhi University science graduate. He took over as the Kerala Governor on April 18, 2002, succeeding Sukhdev Singh Kang.Bakht was a member of the sixth Lok Sabha from 1977 to 1979 and member of Rajya Sabha from April 1990 to April 2002. He had served as Union Minister for Works, Housing, Supply, Rehabilitation and Wakf during 1977-79, Union Minister for Urban Affairs, Employment and External Affairs in May 1996 and was Union Minister for Industry during 1998-99. He was the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha during 1992-98 and Leader of the Rajya Sabha during 1998-99.Bakht was with the Congress until 1969. In the 70s, he was a CWC member and general secretary of the AICC (O) and joined the Janata Party during 1977. He was detained for 18 months during the Emergency. Bakht finally moved on to the BJP and was party general secretary from 1980 to 1982 and vice-president from 1982 to 1993. He was also a Padma Vibhushan recipient in 2000.
