 | Family members pay their last respects 
|
A senior leader of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, who died on Wednesday, has been cremated in Mumbai (Bombay). Pramod Mahajan died of bullet wounds nearly two weeks after being shot, allegedly by his brother.
His brother, Praveen, is accused of murder and is in police custody.
Mr Mahajan was an influential leader in the BJP and correspondents say he was seen by some as a possible future candidate for prime minister.
A former federal minister, he was given a state funeral.
Senior BJP leaders, including opposition leader LK Advani and former premier Atal Behari Vajpayee, as well as politicians from other parties attended the funeral.
Thousands of people lined the route of the cortege from Mr Mahajan's home to the cremation site in central Mumbai.
On Wednesday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the condolences and said it was unfortunate India had lost a young leader with a lot of promise.
"A charismatic and youthful leader, Pramod Mahajan was full of promise and energy. It is indeed tragic that he has been snatched away from us at the prime of his career," he said.
 Praveen Mahajan is accused of murder |
Mr Vajpayee under whom Mr Mahajan served as minister said: "His personality, hard work and his ability to take everybody along not only benefited the party but proved equally beneficial for the country's development," he said.
Reports say Mr Mahajan's brother fired at him from close range in the Mr Mahahan's Mumbai apartment because of a family dispute.
Three shots were allegedly fired by Praveen Mahajan from his licensed revolver.
Popular leader
The BBC's Zubair Ahmed in Mumbai says Mr Mahajan, 56, was one of the most recognised political figures in India.
Although he lacked a political base, he was an influential figure in the BJP where he was part of the party's Generation Next - a group of savvy and relatively younger "technocrat" leaders.
Our correspondent says he played a pivotal role in modernising the party.
A former telecommunications minister, he is credited with bringing about a telecommunication revolution in the country.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Enlarge Image
It is unfortunate that the country has lost a young leader with a lot of promise
