Former Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi passes away at 81

Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh Governor Banwari Lal Joshi, fondly known as BL Joshi, passed away at a hospital here after undergoing treatment for cardiac and respiratory issues, said doctors on Friday. He was 81 years of age.

Born on March 27, 1936, he served two terms as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. He first named the Governor of the state on July 28, 2009 and after completing the term, he again took oath of the office on March 7, 2014.

Joshi died around 4.30 pm at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

"He (Joshi) was admitted to the hospital nearly 20 days ago for problems associated to respiratory and cardiac issues. He died of infection in the valves which led to septic shock," said an AIIMS doctor, unwilling to be named.

Present UP Governor Ram Naik has condoled the death of BL Joshi saying, "He was a really gentle, simple and scholar Governor, who served the state for two terms."

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Earlier, he had also served as the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi from 2004 to 2007, Governor of Meghalaya in 2007, and Governor of Uttarakhand from October 2007 to July 2009.

BL Joshi was born in a small Rajasthan village of Choti Kathu of Nagaur district. He began his career in 1957 with the state police service in Rajasthan and moved to the Government of India in 1962.