Bangalore: Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar from the former royal family of Mysore and who was recently elected president of the Karnataka cricket association, died of a heart attack in Bangalore today.
Mr Wodeyar, 60, had the heart attack at his Bangalore home and efforts to revive him at a city hospital were not successful.
He was a former Congress MP from the Mysore constituency and also a fashion designer.
The son of the late Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, Srikantadatta was never officially a Maharaja, but many people in Mysore thought of him as one. He was a central figure in Mysore's celebration of Dasara and had participated in the festival in October this year.
Mr Wodeyar's wife Pramoda Devi Avaru is from the Bettada Kote Ursu family of the former princely state of Mysore. They have no children.
One of the richest scions of a royal family in the country, Mr Wodeyar had declared assets worth over Rs 1500 crore in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. He owned large properties including the famous Mysore and Bangalore palaces.
A man of many passions, Mr Wodeyar was known among other things for his fetish for luxury cars and watches. All his cars bore registration number 1953, the year he was born.
Mr Wodeyar played university level cricket and maintained his links with the game. He was elected president of the Karnataka Cricket Association last month.
A friend, Dr Dayanand Pai, said, "He wanted to help cricketers from rural areas and give them a chance. He recently told me how he wanted at least one from Karnataka in the Indian cricket team."
When Karnataka was reeling under severe drought last year, Mr Wodeyar had reached out to farmers and conducted prayers at the grounds of his Mysore palace.
Karnataka Home Minister K George said, "His contribution to preserve the culture of the state cannot be forgotten. Not just that he loved sports. As a politician too, he was very committed."
"Our last connection with the Mysore family is lost. He was a sincere man," said former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa.