Kanpur: Former Union minister and veteran Congress leader Sriprakash Jaiswal passed away on Friday following a cardiac arrest. He was 81.

Jaiswal was first admitted to a local nursing home in Kidwai Nagar after his condition worsened and later shifted to the Cardiology Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Born in 1944 in Kanpur to Ganga Prasad Jaiswal and Chandrakali Devi, Jaiswal maintained a lifelong connection with his hometown. He married Maya Rani Jaiswal in 1967 and is survived by two sons, one daughter, and two grandchildren. His family was present during his final hours.

What roles did he play in politics?

Jaiswal held key positions in the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh. He served as Minister of State for Home Affairs from 2004 to 2009 and later headed the Coal Ministry from January 2011 to May 2014.

Before joining the Union Cabinet, he served as president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee from 2000 to 2002.

How did party leaders remember him?

Condoling his death, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, Jaiswal was a "true and loyal Congressman who worked diligently for the development and welfare of Kanpur". He added that Jaiswal’s departure was a “big loss for the Congress party” in a post on X.

Senior party leader Har Prakash Agnihotri noted that Jaiswal shaped Kanpur's political and civic landscape for over three decades.

Pawan Gupta, Congress party’s city president, said, "In 1999, he was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha from Kanpur constituency and retained the seat in 2004 and 2009, becoming a three-term MP and one of the most influential Congress leaders from Uttar Pradesh."

How was he active on the international stage?

In 2009, following attacks on Indian students in Australia, Jaiswal travelled to Melbourne to review the situation first-hand. His visits to hospitals, temples, and public transport systems helped bring international attention to the issue.

Even after his defeat in the 2014 elections, Jaiswal remained actively involved in Kanpur’s political and social life, maintaining his influence and commitment to the city.

PTI inputs