Senior union leader Sharad Rao passed away in Mumbai on Thursday evening following a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 75.

The aggressive union leader breathed his last at Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle around 4 p.m., an official said.

He is survived by his wife Shanta, son Shashank and daughter Shilpa who is settled in Canada.

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.86%

AAP 41.43%

INC 25.71%

Submit

View All In Poll

His body will be kept for darshan at his residence in Bangur Nagar, Goregaon and according to reports will be kept for the daughter to arrive from Canada.

Cremation will take place September 3.

From the Hind Mazdoor Sabha to the BEST Workers Union to the Municipal Mazdoor Union and the Mumbai Auto Rickshaw Mens' Union, Rao was in-charge of several unions in Mumbai and the Mumbai metropolitan region.

Mumbai Auto Rickshaw Mens’ Union is the largest auto union in Mumbai. Sharad Rao, who had been under treatment for cancer for the past two years, had handed over the reins to his son Shashank.

Rao was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2014 and underwent a surgery for the same.

Rao controlled a large chunk of the Mumbai public transport and civic services system and was reputedly one man who could bring the city to a grinding halt by a strike.

He was a close associate of another prominent trade union leader and former Union Minister George Fernandes, and other top leftist and socialist leaders.

His daughter is to reach India in the early hours of Saturday. Rao's funeral will be performed in Goregaon west around 11 a.m. on September 3, an aide said.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu condoled the demise of Rao whom he described as a great union leader and a longtime friend.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief at the demise of Rao and recalled his lifelong struggles for the rights of the common workers through his different unions.

Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde, former Chief Minister and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Ashok Chavan, Lok Bharati President Kapil Patil, senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Supriya Sule, NCP Women's Wing leader Chitra Wagh and leaders from different political parties and unions expressed their condolences.

(With agency inputs)