Union Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde passed away following a car accident in New Delhi on Tuesday at 6:30 am. En route to Prithviraj Road from Safdarjung Road, Munde’s SX4 car was hit by an Indica coming from the opposite direction. The driver of the Indica was the only person in that car. He has now been arrested by the police. Munde had been shifted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after the accident where he was placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He was also put on a ventilator. Despite senior doctors’ efforts, Munde was declared dead at 7:20 am. [caption id=“attachment_1554427” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Gopinath Munde passed away in a car accident on Tuesday morning.[/caption] Several political leaders, from the BJP as well as other political parties, expressed their condolences to the leader. He was described by BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad as a towering yet friendly leader who was committed to working for the development of the poor in the country. Congress leader Raashid Alvi also said that Munde was approachable and attached to the people. Munde had served as the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 1992 to 1995. He had also held the post of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999.