Team Herald
PANJIM: In a development that has sent shockwaves across the State, the political heavyweight from Pernem and senior Congress leader Jitendra Raghuraj Deshprabhu died on Tuesday evening due to pneumonia. He was 64.
Deshprabhu, who is survived by his wife and two children, was admitted in Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) on Tuesday in breathless condition and was put on ventilator.
GMC Dean Shivanand Bandekar confirming about the death said that Dehprabhu was brought to GMC in breathless condition and hence rapid COVID-19 test was conducted, the result of which was negative.
"He died due to pneumonia," Bandekar said confirming cause of the death.
Devendra Deshbrabhu, brother of Jitendra Deshbrabhu has appealed to the people that they should not violate section 144 and lockdown and not to crowd at Raoraje Palace Pernem for the last rites of late Jitendra Deshbrabhu. The main gate of the palace will remain closed.
It is reported that he was initially admitted on Tuesday morning to Redkar Hospital Virnoda, however since his health was not showing any improvement, he was later shifted to GMC.
Desphrabhu, whose family has aristocratic connections, was born on March 31, 1956.
Deshprabhu was the younger heir of the royal Raoraje family of Pernem which, during the Portuguese rule in Goa, was awarded the title ‘Visconde de Pernem’ or Viscount of Pernem for securing the northern border of the territory for the Portuguese administration.
He completed his schooling at Dr.Antonio D'silva High School,Mumbai in 1972 (SSCE) and graduated in Agriculture (BSc Agriculture) from Poona College of Agriculture affiliated to Mahatma Krishi Vidyapeeth Rahuri,Maharashtra in the year 1976.
The two-time MLA from Pernem assembly constituency, Deshprabhu won the seat on Congress party ticket in 1999 and 2002; before he lost to BJP's Dayanand Sopte in 2007. Initially in 1993, he was also appointed as the Chairperson of Pernem Municipal Council.
Later in 2009, Deshprabhu joined NCP and was nominated as Congress- NCP consensus candidate for North Goa Lok Sabha seat. However, he lost to BJP's Shripad Naik with a very close margin. He later in 2012 joined Congress.
He was also the acting president of Shri Bhagwati Devasthan committee Pernem and acting chairman of Viscount High school which has achieved 100 percent result eight times in a row.
He owned 80% of land in Pernem taluka and had contributed well to development of Pernem taluka.
He also served as the Vice President, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Chairman, Tourism Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Goa Trustee, Goa International Center Member, India Habitat Center, New Delhi Managing Trustee, Rauraje Kakasaheb Deshprabhu Educational Trusts Viscount of Pernem High School, Pernem. He was also Member of the Board of Governors of Goa Institute of Management Goa and ex-Vice president of Goa Cricket Association.