Madhavsinh Solanki was India's External Affairs Minister under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao.
Four-time Gujarat Chief Minister Madhavsinh Solanki passed away today at his residence in Gandhinagar. The veteran Congress leader was 93. He was also India's External Affairs Minister under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao.
"Shri Madhavsinh Solanki Ji was a formidable leader, playing a key role in Gujarat politics for decades. He will be remembered for his rich service to society. Saddened by his demise. Spoke to his son, Bharat Solanki Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted today in condolence.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, too, expressed sadness at Mr Solanki's death.
Gujarat Congress chief Amit Chavda said Mr Solanki had made his place in the heart of the people by his nature and actions.
"The news of death of former Chief Minister of Gujarat, former Foreign Minister of the country and senior Congress leader Madhavsinh Solanki is tragic. May god rest his holy spirit. During his lifetime, he had made his place in the heart of the people by his nature and actions," Mr Chavda tweeted.
The late politician's son, Bharat Solanki, is a former Gujarat Congress chief and former Union Minister.
Madhavsinh Solanki was Chief Minister of Gujarat four times between 1976 and 1990. He is remembered for cobbling together the KHAM (Kshatriya, Harijan or Dalit, Adivasi, Muslim) social coalition to gain electoral upper hand in Gujarat in the 1980s. He was the longest-serving Chief Minister of the state before Narendra Modi.