Bhopal, March 05: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has cancelled his 52nd birthday celebrations Saturday as part of the state mourning for former chief minister Arjun Singh who died Friday.
Arjun Singh, 80, was three-time Congress chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.
He first became chief minister June 8, 1980 and remained for full term till March 10, 1985. On his second term he took oath on March 11, 1985 but remained for one day only and the Congress replaced him with Motilal Vohra.
Again on Feb 14, 1988 he became chief minister for the third time, this time his tenure lasted eleven months 10 days.
He was the longest serving Congress chief minister after Digvijay Singh who completed two full terms.
The government has declared a three-day mourning from Saturday when there will be no official programmes of entertainment. The national flag will fly at half-mast on government buildings.
But the ongoing board examinations would be held as scheduled. Saturday is being observed as a holiday in government offices and institutes.
Arjun Singh died in New Delhi. His last rites will be performed with state honours in Churhat in Sidhi district Sunday.
State Bharatiya Janata Party chief Prabhat Jha Saturday went to the state Congress office here and took part in a memorial event for Arjun Singh.
—IANS