Senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Minister Paras Chandra Jain passed away on Monday (August 3, 2026) during treatment for an ailment at a hospital in Indore, family sources said.

He was 77.

Jain, the former MLA from Ujjain, was admitted to the private hospital after complaining of fluid accumulation in his lungs and died during treatment, they said.

He served as a Minister in three BJP governments from 2005 and headed important departments, including School Education, Higher Education, Energy, Forest, Food And Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection till 2018, party sources said.

Popularly known as “Paras Pahalwan” because of his love for wrestling, Jain represented the Ujjain North Assembly seat for six terms — 1990, 1993, 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018.

Though a six‑term MLA and Cabinet Minister in the BJP government on several occasions, he used to ride a scooter through Ujjain to meet friends and share tea and snacks with them across the religious city.

Jain is survived by his wife and two children.

His last rites will be performed in Ujjain later in the day, the sources added.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over Jain’s demise.

“I offer my humble tribute to him. I pray to Baba Mahakal that the departed soul be granted a place at His divine feet and that the bereaved family be bestowed with the strength to endure this immense sorrow,” Mr. Yadav said in a post on X.

Published - August 03, 2026 03:48 pm IST