Former Union minister Babanrao Dhakne passed away after brief illness. He was 86.

• Dhakne was undergoing treatment for pneumonia at a private hospital at Ahmednagar, breathed his last there on Thursday night. 
• Dhakne was minister of state for energy in the Union government led by Chandra Shekhar. He was also a minister in the Maharashtra government and handled portfolios like public works and rural development.
• A former state unit president of Janata Dal, Dhakne was also leader of opposition in state assembly and deputy speaker of the House.