Ananth Kumar was a BJP MP from south Bengaluru constituency and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs in Narendra Modi government.
Senior BJP leader and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru during early hours of Monday after battling lung cancer for several months.
Kumar, 59, breathed his last around 2 am with his wife Tejaswini and two daughters by his bedside, Sankara Hospital Director Nagaraj told PTI.
The 59-year-old leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had not been keeping well for the past few months. He had come back to Bengaluru only recently after undergoing treatment in the US and Britain. He was later under treatment at the Sankara Hospital in Bengaluru.
Kumar passed away from complications following cancer and infections, his party office said in a statement. He had been on the ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit for the last few days, it said.
BJP sources said the body of Kumar would be kept at the National College Ground for public homage. Details of funeral arrangements were being worked out, the sources said.
Kumar was a BJP MP from south Bengaluru constituency.
Kumar held charge of two key ministries - serving as Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers since May 2014 and as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs since July 2016 in the Narendra Modi government. Since 1996 he has represented Bengaluru South constituency in the Lok Sabha.
Born on 22 July 1959 in Bengaluru, Kumar did his graduation in faculty of Arts (B.A) from KS Arts College, Hubli affiliated to the Karnataka University and later, completed his bachelors in law (L.L.B) from JSS Law College affiliated to the Karnataka University.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and other party leaders expressed grief over his death.
"Extremely saddened by the passing away of my valued colleague and friend, Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. He was a remarkable leader, who entered public life at a young age and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion. He will always be remembered for his good work," PM tweeted.
"Ananth Kumar Ji was an able administrator, who handled many ministerial portfolios and was a great asset to the BJP organisation. He worked hard to strengthen the Party in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru and surrounding areas. He was always accessible to his constituents," he said.
"I spoke to his wife, Dr. Tejaswini Ji and expressed condolences on the passing away of Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. My thoughts are with his entire family, friends and supporters in this hour of grief and sadness. Om Shanti," Modi added.
President also offered his condolences to his family. "Sad to hear of the passing of Union minister and veteran parliamentarian Shri H.N. Ananth Kumar. This is a tragic loss to public life in our country and particularly for the people of Karnataka. My condolences to his family, colleagues and countless associates," Rashtrapati bhavan said in a tweet.
Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda expressed grief over Kumar's demise and tweeted, "Shocked, it's unbelievable, My friend, Brother Ananthkumar is no more."
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also expressed sorrow over his death and said in a tweet, "Deep sense of grief on hearing that Shri @AnanthKumar_BJP is no more with us. Served @BJP4India @BJP4Karnataka all along. Bengaluru was in his head and heart, always. May God give his family the strength to bear with this loss."
Kumar's political journey
A six-time member of Parliament, Kumar had climbed the political ladder steadily from being an RSS worker to be the Union minister in his thirties.
Kumar had been in the inner circle of the central leadership of the BJP -- be it during the heydays of Atal Bihari Vajpayee or L K Advani and now Narendra Modi.
He joined the BJP in 1987 and never looked back, as he held posts of state secretary, state president of the Yuva Morcha, general secretary and national secretary.
Along with state BJP chief Yeddyurappa, Kumar is among a few party leaders who can be credited for the growth of BJP in Karnataka, as they built the party and bringing it to power in 2008, making it the first saffron party government in the South.
Kumar first got elected to Lok Sabha in 1996 from Bangalore South, the constituency, which remained his bastion till his passing away.
(With agencies)
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