Former poll panel chief and Congress leader MS Gill passes away at 86

Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India and Congress leader Manohar Singh Gill died at a private hospital on Sunday at the age of 86 after combating a brief illness.

His last rites will be performed on Monday in New Delhi.

Condoling Gill's death, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge posted on X, “Extremely saddened at the passing away of Former Union Minister, Padma Vibhushan, Shri Manohar Singh Gill Ji. As a valued colleague in the UPA Govt and earlier as a civil servant, his contributions to development of



the nation in varied fields like sports, electoral processes and agriculture were long lasting."

"Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and followers. I pray to the almighty for his eternal peace,” he added in his post.

Gill, a Punjab cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, served as the CEC between December 1996 and June 2001.

Later, he entered the Rajya Sabha as a Congress member and was made the Union sports minister in 2008. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.