Patna,(BiharTimes)a: Former Union minister and seasoned Congress leader, Baleshwar Ram, died due to kidney-related ailments in a private hospital in Patna late on Saturday night. He was 87.

He left behind his wife, two sons and two daughters. One of his son, Ashok Ram, is a Congress leader of Bihar.A five-term MLA from various Assembly constituencies since 1952, Baleshwar Ram had served as minister in various Congress government in 1960s and 1970s.

In 1980 he was elected to Lok Sabha from Rosera constituency on Congress (I) ticket and went to serve in the Indira Gandhi government as the Union minister.Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Bihar Congress President Ashok Chaudhary and other leaders condoled his death.Nitish said that Baleshwar Ram’s demise has left a huge void in Bihar.