New Delhi: Devendra Nath Dwivedi, a constitutional expert, who was recently appointed Governor of Gujarat, died on Saturday morning due to liver problems even before he could take up his assignment.
Seventy four-year-old Dwivedi was admitted to Intensive Care Unit of Gastroenterology department in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on July 23, hospital sources said.
He was to undergo a liver transplant, but died at 4 am on Saturday, they said.
Dwivedi was appointed as Governor of Gujarat to succeed Nawal Kishore Sharma, whose five-year-term got over on July 24 this month.
However, he could not take charge immediately due to health problems and Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir was given the additional charge of the state.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Dwivedi's house after hearing the news and placed a wreath on his body. President Pratibha Patil also condoled Dwivedi's death.
A wreath was also placed on behalf of the President. Condoling the death, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the veteran Congressman was a law expert and the nation has lost a well known personality in his death.
A noted Supreme Court lawyer, Dwivedi had served as the Additional Solicitor General of India.
He was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1974 to 1980. Impressed with Dwivedi's intellect and understanding of politics, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made him a Rajya Sabha member.
He was a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and earlier served as a party general secretary during the Prime Ministership of P V Narasimha Rao.
Though Dwivedi left the Congress in 1999 and joined Nationalist Congress Party floated by Sharad Pawar, he came back to the party-fold in 2001.
A known Rao loyalist, Dwivedi grew close to then finance Minister Manmohan Singh and their proximity grew over the years.