Indore, May 8 : Former Congress MLA, Ashwini Joshi, a towering figure in Indoreâ??s political landscape and three-time legislator from Assembly constituency No. 3, passed away on Friday morning following a heart attack. He was 66.

According to family sources, Joshi had been battling respiratory complications and a leg ailment for some time and was under medical care. He suffered a heart attack around 8:00 A.M. at his residence and was rushed to Shelby Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Joshiâ??s demise has triggered an outpouring of grief across party lines and civil society in Indore. Known for his forthright style and deep grassroots connect, he remained one of the most recognisable Congress faces in the Malwa region for over three decades.

A three-term MLA from Indore-3, Joshi built his career on accessibility and constituency work. He was widely credited with strengthening the Congress organisation in urban Indore at a time when the BJP dominated the cityâ??s political map.

Born into a politically influential family, Joshi was the nephew of former minister and Congress stalwart Mahesh Joshi, whose decades-long tenure shaped Indoreâ??s political narrative.

Starting in student politics, Ashwini Joshi steadily climbed the ranks, earning a reputation as a shrewd organiser and loyalist of former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh.

His career was also marked by controversy. Joshi was named as an accused in the 2006 shooting of former Congress councillor Munna Ansari. After an 18-year-long trial, he was acquitted in 2024, with the court citing lack of evidence and failure to recover the weapon.

Indore-based Congress leader, K.K. Mishra told IANS that the mortal remains have been kept at his residence for public homage.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari called the death â??heart-wrenchingâ?? and said Joshiâ??s organisational skills and public connect were unmatched.

Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath said Joshi would â??always hold a special place in the public life of Indore and the stateâ?? and recalled his contribution during difficult phases for the party.

BJP leaders, including senior Indore legislators, also expressed condolences, remembering him as a formidable opponent who never allowed politics to strain personal relations. Joshi is survived by his wife, son, and extended family.

/IANS