Former Karnataka CM Bangarappa passes away

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Sarekoppa Bangarappa died early this morning at a private hospital following a brief illness, family sources said here.

Bangalore: Former Karnataka Chief Minister
Sarekoppa Bangarappa died early this morning at a private
hospital following a brief illness, family sources said here.

Bangarappa (79) is survived by wife, two sons and three
daughters.

Bangarappa, who was suffering from kidney related
problems and a diabetic, was undergoing treatment since
December seven. He breathed his last at about 0045 hrs,
sources said.

Bangarappa had recently joined JDS headed by former prime
minister H D Devegowda.

Born on October 26, 1932, Bangarappa entered politics in
1967 when he was elected to the state assembly and served the
late Devaraj Urs ministry in 1972.

Baptised into politics as a Socialist, he was a known
party hopper who had quit Congress several times only to
rejoin it, besides floating his own outfits and joining
Samajwadi Party and BJP in between.

Bangarappa had played a key role in installing the first
ever non-Congress government in Karnataka in 1983 when his
outfit Karnataka Kranti Ranga supported the then Janata Party
government headed by late Ramakrishna Hegde.

He was the Chief Minister between 1990-92 and after he
was removed from the post, he floated Karnataka Congress Party
which contested the 1994 assembly elections and won 10 seats.

Bangarappa, who has left his own imprints in state
politics, was on the national political stage as a Lok Sabha
member for three terms in 1996, 1999 and 2003. He was also
with the Samajwadi Party.

A highly respected leader among backward classes,
Bangarappa had, however, lost the 1998 parliamentary polls to
BJP`s Ayanur Manjunath.

His worst times in political arena came in 2009, when
Bangarappa was defeated by B Y Raghavendra, son of former
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in Shimoga parliamentary seat
and also in the assembly election held in 2008 at the hands
of Yeddyurappa in Shikaripura constituency.

Bangarappa also spent three years in BJP and won as an MP
on its ticket in 1996 and 1999.

His body is being taken to his native village Kabatur
where last rites would be performed tomorrow, according to
family sources.

Kumara Bangarappa, Bangarappa`s eldest son, is an actor
and also a former minister. His another son Madhu Bangarappa
is involved in the film industry.

PTI

Zee News App: Read latest news of India and world, bollywood news, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Zee news app now to keep up with daily breaking news and live news event coverage.