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UP: SP MLA from Duddhi Vijay Singh Gond dies after prolonged illness, Sanjay Gandhi breathes his last in PGI

Samira Vishwas | January 8, 2026 11:24 PM CST

Sonbhadra, 8 January. Samajwadi Party MLA from Duddhi assembly constituency of Uttar Pradesh and senior tribal leader Vijay Singh Gond died on Thursday after a prolonged illness. He was 71 years old. SP leader Avadh Narayan Yadav confirmed the death of Vijay Singh Gond.

Gond, an eight-time MLA, was ill for a long time and was undergoing treatment at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. Meanwhile, both his kidneys had stopped working. Avadh Narayan Yadav said, ‘Vijay Singh Gond was ill for a long time and was undergoing treatment in Lucknow. His demise is an irreparable loss to the region and the tribal community.

Vijay Gond was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly as a SP candidate from Duddhi in the 2024 by-election. The by-election was held after then BJP MLA Ramdular Gond was sentenced to 25 years in prison for raping a minor.

MLA was elected for the first time in 1980 on Congress ticket.

Starting his political career in the year 1980, Gond was first elected MLA from Duddhi on Congress ticket. He won the constituency in 1985 on a Congress ticket, in 1989 as an independent and later in 1991 and 1993 as a Janata Dal MLA. He won on Samajwadi Party ticket in 1996 and 2002. During the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led government, he held the rank of Minister of State.

Was widely popular as a prominent tribal leader

Despite his long political career, Gond had to face defeat in the 2017 and 2022 assembly elections amid a strong electoral wave by the BJP. Widely regarded as a prominent tribal leader at both the district and state levels, Gond was known for consistently raising issues to the welfare and rights of tribal communities.

Vijay God was also seen as a grassroots leader with deep connect with the people of the region. Yadav said Gond’s mortal remains are expected to be brought to Duddhi by today evening itself and the last rites will be performed on the banks of Kandahar river in Duddhi. Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav and other senior leaders have expressed grief over Gond’s demise.