Wed Jan 15 16:43:04 UTC 2025: ## Veteran NCP Leader Mahesh Kothe Dies of Heart Attack During Kumbh Mela

**Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, January 14, 2025** – Mahesh Kothe, a prominent leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and former mayor of Solapur, passed away on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. He was 60.

Kothe, along with his family, had travelled to Prayagraj to participate in the auspicious ‘Amrit Snan’ (holy bath) at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers. According to family members, he suffered a heart attack while in the river. Despite being rushed to a hospital, he was pronounced dead.

Kothe, who had recently contested the November 2024 elections from Sholapur (North) against BJP’s Vijay Deshmukh, was a well-respected figure in Solapur’s social and political landscape. He is survived by his wife and son. His body will be taken to Solapur for cremation on Wednesday.

NCP leader Sharad Pawar expressed his condolences, tweeting, “The passing of my old colleague Mahesh Kothe in Prayagraj is deeply saddening. Sholapur city has lost a vibrant and dedicated worker. Our thoughts are with his family during this time of grief.”

The incident occurred amidst the massive turnout for the Kumbh Mela’s Makar Sankranti Amrit Snan, with an estimated 3.5 crore devotees taking a holy dip on Tuesday. The extreme cold in Prayagraj at this time of year may have been a contributing factor.

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