New Delhi: Union minister and senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar died at 2 am this morning at a hospital in Karnataka capital Bengaluru at the age of 59. The union minister was suffering from cancer. He had returned last month after undergoing treatment at a cancer institute in US' New York city. Mr Kumar's wife Tejaswini and his two daughters were with him in his last moments. His body will be kept at Bengaluru's National College for last tributes. He was one of the few ministers to have served in the earlier NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
A five-time Member of Parliament or MP from Bengluru constituency, Ananth Kumar held charge of two key ministries -- Chemicals and Fertilizers since May 2014 and Parliamentary Affairs since July 2016 in the Narendra Modi government. Several leaders have taken to social media to express grief over his death.
President Ram Nath Kovind expressed grief over Ananth Kumar's death, saying the passing of the "veteran" parliamentarian was "a tragic loss to public life in our country and particularly for the people of Karnataka."
PM Narendra Modi said Ananth Kumar was "a remarkable leader" who "went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion".
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said Mr Kumar made significant contribution to the country as a politician and his work made him popular among Bengalureans. "Our families had a friendship beyond politics. He always valued and had given priority to friendship. I have lost a great friend in his death," the chief minister added.
Here are the tributes pouring in over Ananth Kumar's death:
Nov 12, 2018 18:43 (IST)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the death of Union Minister Ananth Kumar, saying he was a "popular leader" who had a "deep attachment" with the masses.
In a statement, Yogi Adityanath said, "Ananth Kumar was a popular leader, and had deep attachment with the public. He had effectively discharged his responsibilities pertaining to the organisation and government."
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya in a tweet condoled the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader's demise, terming it as an "irreparable loss" for the saffron party.
Nov 12, 2018 18:31 (IST)
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik expressed grief over the Ananth Kumar death.
Describing him as a "diligent leader" who devoted his life to public service, Mr Malik said it would be difficult to fill the void left by Ananth Kumar in the country's politics.
The governor prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in its hour of grief, an official release said.
Nov 12, 2018 18:17 (IST)
RSS Dakshin Madhya Kshetra Sanghachalak V Niagara lauded Ananth Kumar for his "wonderful" job as union chemicals and fertilisers minister by introducing neem coated fertilisers, thus putting an end to shortage of manure.
"Ananth Kumar's death is an irreparable loss to the nation. It is indeed a big vacuum in politics as well as to the philanthropic services he rendered," he said in a statement.
RSS Dakshin Kshetra Sahkaryavah N Thippeswamy recalled Ananth Kumar's role as a Swayamsevak and his active participation in the fight against emergency.
RSS Karnataka unit leaders Ma Venkataramu Dagestan Pattanashetti also paid rich tributes to Kumar.
Nov 12, 2018 16:16 (IST)
BJP lawmaker Bandaru Dattatreya said Ananth Kumar had rendered yeoman's services as a Union Minister in the NDA governments led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi.
He also hailed the services of Ananth Kumar to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Nov 12, 2018 16:15 (IST)
Telangana Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao condoled the death of Union Minister Ananth Kumar.
Mr Rao remembered Ananth Kumar's services as a parliamentarian and political leader and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family, a release from his office said.
Nov 12, 2018 16:14 (IST)
MK Stalin, Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu state assembly, condoled Ananth Kumar's death.
"Very sad to hear the demise of Union Minister Thiru (Mr) Ananth Kumar. My sincere condolences to his family and near ones," the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader said in a tweet.
Nov 12, 2018 16:13 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami condoled the death of Union Minister Ananth Kumar.
Mr Palaniswami said Ananth Kumar had joined politics at a young age with the aim of doing public service.
"He had the distinction of being elected MP for six times from Bengaluru South from 1996 to 2014," he said in a statement, expressing sympathy with the leader's family.
Nov 12, 2018 15:50 (IST)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed profound grief over Ananth Kumar's death.
"Union minister Ananth Kumar's death is a saddening incident. His death has caused an irreparable loss to the politics. Kumar was an energetic, hardworking and a noted social worker. He had significant contributions to Karnataka's politics," Kumar said in a statement.
The Chief Minister prayed to the almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family relatives, followers and fans to bear the loss, the statement said.
Nov 12, 2018 14:51 (IST)
The body of union minister Ananth Kumar will be brought to Karnataka BJP office at 8 AM on Tuesday. It will be kept for public darshan till 10 AM in Malleshwaram state BJP office.
The body will be shifted to National College Grounds at 10 AM.
Cremation will take place at 1 PM in Chamarajpet TR Mill crematorium.
