Guwahati: Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Tota Singh breathed his last at the age of 81 at a private hospital in Mohali district of Punjab on Saturday.
As per the reports, Singh was suffering from prolonged illness.
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed condolences over the demise of Singh.
“Deeply saddened to learn about the demise of senior Akali leader Jathedar Tota Singh Ji. Jathedar sahab was a father figure to me & a source of inspiration for all of us. His invaluable advice & wise counsel will always be missed. I stand with Brar family in this hour of grief,” Badal tweeted.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also condoled the death of Tota Singh.
“My heartfelt condolences over the sad demise of veteran Akali leader, Jathedar Tota Singh Ji,” Warring said in a tweet.
Singh was the agriculture and education minister in the Akali government.He was a member of the SAD’s core committee and senior vice president.
He was also a Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member.
Singh was elected for the first time as a legislator from the Moga Assembly seat in 1997. At the time, he was appointed as education minister in the Parkash Singh Badal-led government.
In the 2002 Assembly elections, he was re-elected from Moga, but he lost in 2007. In 2012, Singh was elected as the agriculture minister from the Dharamkot Assembly constituency. However, Singh lost the 2017 and 2022 assembly elections.