Former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is no more. He was 87. Mr. Shekhawat was admitted to the ICU of Sawai Man Singh Hospital of Jaipur on Thursday following complains of uneasiness and breathing trouble.<br/><br/>Doctors had said that the former Vice-President suffered from lung and chest infection. His condition deteriorated further this morning. He was put on ventilator and given cardiac massage.<br/><br/>The mortal remains of Mr Shekhawat will be consigned to flames on Sunday at 10 AM in Jaipur.<br/><br/>President, Vice-President and Prime Minister have condoled the death of former Vice President on his sad demis. <br/><br/>The President Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil expressing condolence said that country has lost a great statesman who was a man of political repute. Vice-President Mohd. <br/><br/>Hamid Ansari expressed grief and said that Mr. Shekhawat had a glorious record of sevice to the country and the people. He described him as having earned the respect and admiration of the people for his dedication, sense of public service and innate simplicity. <br/><br/>Senior BJP leader LK Advani said that party has lost a great leader and an able administrator. He was an asset to the party who has always worked for the upliftment of the rural masses. <br/><br/>BJP President Nitin Gadkari was aggrieved at the loss and said that Bharat Mata has lost a great son and his services to the party will always be remembered. <br/><br/>Minister of Minority Affairs Mr. Salman Khurshid expressed condolence to his family and spoke in glowing terms about him stating that he was a leader of high eminence. <br/><br/>Union Minister Farooq Abdullah termed the departed leader a gentleman who had friends across the political spectrum. The Minister of Rural Development Mr. C.P. Joshi described the demise as a great loss to society and nation.<br/><br/>Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has described Mr.Shekhawat's demise as a loss to the nation and end of an era. <br/><br/>Former Union Minister Natwar Singh condoled the death of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat saying he was a popular leader with his roots in the village. The former External Affairs Minister noted that Shekhawat performed "extremely well" as Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha.<br/><br/>Born on October 23, 1923 in Khachariyawas, a small village in Sikar district, he was sworn-in as the country's 12th Vice-President on August 19, 2002.<br/><br/>Mr. Shekhawat was the only member of the Rajasthan Assembly to have won in every Assembly election since 1952, except 1972 when he lost from Gandhi Nagar in Jaipur.<br/><br/>He was also elected to the Rajya Sabha from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh in 1974. Mr. Shekhawat enjoyed the distinction of heading three non-Congress Governments in the state in 1977-1980, 1990-1992 and 1993-1998.<br/><br/>His tenure as the Chief Minister of the desert state was marked by pragmatism as his Government launched path-breaking policies.<br/><br/>His brainchild – the Antyodaya scheme to help the poorest of the poor brought international accolades for Mr. Shekhawat with the then World Bank Chief Robert McNamara describing him as the Rockfeller of India.