New Delhi: Veteran Himachal Congress leader Shri GS Bali died in New Delhi on October 30, 2021. He was 67. Shri GS Bali had undergone a kidney transplant and was admitted to AIIMS in New Delhi following post-operation complications.

His son and AICC Secretary Shri RS Bali took to Facebook to break the news. His body was brought to Kangra on October 31, 2021.

Bali was a four-time MLA from NagrotaBagwan and remained a minister in the Congress government from 2003 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2017.

In a Condolence message by Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, she said,” I was deeply pained to hear of the sudden demise of your father Shri G.S Bali Ji. I know that the pain is unbearable for you and other family members and words of consolation are not enough. Still, there are several casualties in life that cannot be controlled and thus, have to be endured.

He was a devoted Congressman and loyal to the ideology of the Congress and also remained loyal to the Congress throughout his life. He tried to fulfil with complete devotion whatever responsibility he got in political and public life. His death is an irreparable loss.”

Deeply saddened by the demise of Shri GS Bali in a message by former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi said: “During his long political journey, he was deeply involved in grassroots work. His valuable contribution towards strengthening the party organization shall be remembered. But most importantly, his empathy and generosity will be missed by all those fortunate to have known him.” In another tweet by AICC General Secretary Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, she said: Received the sad news of the death of Shri GS Bali ji, a strong pillar of Congress ideology and development man in Himachal Pradesh.

Shri GS Bali Ji strengthened the Congress ideology throughout his life and served the people of Dev Bhoomi Himachal. My condolences to his family and loved ones. Congress legislature party leader Mukesh Agnihotri said that after the demise of former CM Virbhadra Singh, Bali’s death is a big blow to the party.

The four-time MLA from NagrotaBagwan, Bali was a Cabinet-Minister in the Virbhadra Singh government twice, holding portfolios of transport, tourism, food and civil supplies, besides technical education.

The former minister was always in the forefront of the party’s fight on various issues of public importance, social justice and well-being of under-privileged sections of society across the state. He was the founder President of Himachal NagrikSudhar Sabha, and headed several social bodies.

Born on July 27, 1954 in Kangra, Bali had a diploma in mechanical engineering. He was elected as MLA four times in a row in 1998, 2003, 2007 and 2012, but lost the 2017 poll by a slender margin.