Former Karnataka Chief Minister Bangarappa Died

Former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa died on Monday in Bangalore. The veteran who hailed from Shimoga died at the Mallya hospital. Bangarappa, 79, is survived by wife, two sons and three daughters. He was associated with all the major political parties like the Congress, the BJP, the JDS and even the NCP.

Bangarappa, who was suffering from kidney related problems and a diabetic, was undergoing treatment since December seven. He breathed his last at about 12:45 am, sources said. 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.

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