Senior Congress leader Arif Akil (file photo)
Arif Akil, a senior Congress leader and former cabinet minister, was admitted to hospital after suffering a heart problem, but could not survive. He passed away at Apollo Hospital in Bhopal on Monday morning. The family appealed for prayers for him. After his death, the wave of mourning has returned in the Congress. His age was 72 years.
Arif Aqeel is also suffering from heart disease earlier. He had a heart surgery last year. It was said that his health suddenly deteriorated on Sunday, after which he was immediately admitted to Apollo Hospital in Bhopal. Doctors said that his condition is critical. He breathed his last on Monday morning. He was a big face in Madhya Pradesh politics.
The Congress leader did not contest Madhya Pradesh assembly election 2023 due to health reasons. He himself refused for this. He appealed to the party to allow his son to contest, after which the party gave his son Atif a ticket from Bhopal North. Atif also won from here. Arif Aqeel was representing this seat.
Who is Arif Aqeel?
Congress leader Arif Akil was born on 14 January 1952. He is contesting assembly elections from Bhopal North in Madhya Pradesh. He has also been a cabinet minister in the state government. He was first elected as MLA from Bhopal North seat in 1990. He started his political career as an active student leader in 1972, then in 1977 he was appointed president of Saifia College student committee and in the same year he was made vice president of Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress and NSUI.
Arif Aqeel defeated senior Congress leader and former minister Rasool Ahmed Siddiqui in 1990. He contested this election as an independent candidate and got elected to the Legislative Assembly. After this, in 1993, the Janata Dal contested elections under the party’s auspices, but lost narrowly to the BJP. He rejoined the Congress in 1996. In 1998, he contested the MLA election and defeated his old rival BJP leader Ramesh Sharma. For the past three decades, the politics of old Bhopal has been seen to be centered around Arif Akil. In several elections, the BJP won most of the Bhopal assembly seats, but could not shake the stronghold of Arif Akil. Due to which the prestige of Congress has always been saved.
