Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh passes away

Battling severe illness, union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh passed away in Chennai today. The 67-year-old Deshmukh was looking for a possible kidney and liver transplant donor.

Unfortunately, there was a major setback after a brain-dead man whose liver and kidney were to be transplanted, died hours before the transplant. A team doctors of several specialties, including noted liver transplant surgeon Dr Mohamed Rela, were treating the former Maharashtra Chief Minister.

The 67-year-old former Maharashtra chief minister had shown signs of improvement and had been on and off the ventilator before being prepared for a transplant.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till Thursday after the news of Deshmukh's death. 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled Deshmukh's death. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said it was a great loss to the party.