New Delhi, Oct 20 : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader J P Mathur died on Saturday morning after prolonged illness. He was 86.

Mathur, who was ailing for sometime, breathed his last at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital at around 5.00 a.m.

His last rites will be performed later in the day.

Mathur, who served as a member of Rajya Sabha thrice, was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnaur Dstrict on November 9, 1921.

One of the founding members of the BJP, he also served as the party's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.

A bachelor, Mathur had a life long association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since he joined it as a pracharak in 1945.

He was associated with the BJP since its Jansanghi days. (ANI)