Ranchi, June 28: Congress legislator from Hatia Gopal Sharan Nath Shahdeo died of a heart attack in Varanasi this afternoon. He was in his forties and is survived by his wife and other family members.

Popular among the youth for his outspoken manner, Shahdeo was first elected to the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha in 2005.

His last victory against senior BJP member Ramjilal Sarda was challenged in a petition which is still pending before the Jharkhand High Court.

Of late he was in the limelight for holding meetings with MLAs at his residence, apparently in a bid to form an alternative government after the exit of the Shibu Soren government became imminent.

Governor M.O.H. Farook and Congress state president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu paid their condolences and described his demise as a big loss.

Shahdeo's body will arrive tomorrow from Varanasi where he had gone on a visit.

JVM (P) central committee member Bahrua Ekka too died this morning at his Bariatu residence in the state capital. He was 65 and was suffering from throat cancer.

Ekka was a former registrar of Ranchi University and vice chancellor of Vinoba Bhave University. He contested from Lohardaga Assembly seat.