Ex-Union minister passes away

Gurupadaswamy was admitted to hospital on Saturday after suffering a heart attack.
The last rites will be performed at Nanjangud in Mysore district on Wednesday.

The veteran leader had served as Cabinet minister in the Indira Gandhi and V P Singh governments.

Born in 1922, Gurupadaswamy began his political career by successfully contesting the Lok Sabha elections in 1952 from Mysore as a Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party candidate.

Later, he became the General Secretary of the Praja Socialist Party. His first stint as Cabinet minister was in former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s Cabinet in 1966.

He fell out of Indira Gandhi’s favour during the 1969 split and resigned from the ministry.
He went on to become the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. In 1983, he joined forces with then Janata Dal leader V P Singh and served in his Cabinet as petroleum minister.

Condolence

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and political leaders, cutting across party lines, have condoled the death of Gurupadaswamy.

In his message, Yeddyurappa said: “Always simple, efficient, honest and a through gentleman, he has continuously strived for the welfare of the people. His contribution as Union Minister for Petroleum and Atomic Energy are worthy of emulation.”

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, KPCC president G Parameshwara also condoled Gurupadaswamy’s death.