Makhan Lal Fotedar, a veteran Congress leader, died today. Congress party sources said, he died at a hospital in Gurugram.<br/><br/>Hailing from Kashmir, Fotedar was ushered into politics by Jawaharlal Nehru in early 1950s and he gradually strengthened his position in the Congress to become one of the<br/>most powerful persons in the party.<br/><br/>He enjoyed immense trust of Indira Gandhi who had made him her political secretary in 1980. After her death, Rajiv Gandhi also made him his political secretary for three years, before inducting him in his Cabinet as a minister.<br/><br/>Fotedar also was a member of the powerful Congress Working Committee (CW), the highest decision-making body of the party, for a long time.<br/><br/>Even now, he was a permanent invitee to the CWC.<br/><br/>Congress President Sonia Gandhi, while expressing her condolences on his demise, said, Fotedar was "one of the guiding lights for the Congress party and has left behind a void which can never be filled."

Makhan Lal Fotedar, a veteran Congress leader, died today. Congress party sources said, he died at a hospital in Gurugram.<br/><br/>Hailing from Kashmir, Fotedar was ushered into politics by Jawaharlal Nehru in early 1950s and he gradually strengthened his position in the Congress to become one of the<br/>most powerful persons in the party.<br/><br/>He enjoyed immense trust of Indira Gandhi who had made him her political secretary in 1980. After her death, Rajiv Gandhi also made him his political secretary for three years, before inducting him in his Cabinet as a minister.<br/><br/>Fotedar also was a member of the powerful Congress Working Committee (CW), the highest decision-making body of the party, for a long time.<br/><br/>Even now, he was a permanent invitee to the CWC.<br/><br/>Congress President Sonia Gandhi, while expressing her condolences on his demise, said, Fotedar was "one of the guiding lights for the Congress party and has left behind a void which can never be filled."