Former Union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh succumbed to post-COVID19 illness at AIIMS, New Delhi on Sunday.

He was 74.

The veteran politician leader from Bihar had resigned from the Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) just a few days ago.

Singh is often called the architect of the MNREGA scheme, which was floated when he was the Union minister for rural development.

The former Union minister’s death has been deeply condoled by President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The passing away of Raghuvansh Prasad Singh is tragic. An outstanding leader rooted to ground, Raghuvansh Babu was a true stalwart with phenomenal understanding of rural India. With his spartan and sagely lifestyle, he enriched public life. Condolences to his family & followers,” President Kovind tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi said: “Raghuvansh Prasad Singh is no more among us. His demise has left a void in the political sphere of Bihar as well as the country.”

Singh was suffering from lung infection and was put on ventilator support two days ago after his health deteriorated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

He was admitted to the ICU a week ago after he complained of infection in the lungs, which he developed post-COVID19.

Singh tested COVID19 positive in June and was treated at AIIMS in Patna.