Mahadeva Prasad passes away

H S Mahadeva Prasad, Minister for Co-operation and Sugar, died of a heart attack at a resort near here on Tuesday. He was 58.

He was to attend the silver jubilee celebrations of a co-operative organisation at Koppa at 10.30 am, and had arrived here on Monday night. After dinner at a friend’s house, he retired to The Serai, a luxury resort at Mookthihalli.

Y N Shankare Gowda, film producer and director of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Federation, and Nazeemuddin, former president of the Gundlupete municipal council, were staying in an adjoining room.

In the morning, they went to find out why Prasad had not come out of his room even after 9 am.

Deputy Commissioner G Satyavathi announced Prasad was dead after a team of doctors — comprising the district health officer, the district surgeon and two medical officers — examined him.

Doctors did not conduct a post-mortem as his family members did not ask for it. Normally, a post-mortem is done if the family members demand it.

The last rites of Prasad will be held at his farmhouse in Halahalli, Gundlupet taluk,
in Chamarajanagar district as per the tradition of Lingayat community at 11 am on Wednesday.

As the news spread, many Congress leaders made a beeline to the resort.
The body was kept for 10 minutes at the district Congress office for party workers and well-wishers to pay their last respects.

Prasad had undergone bypass surgery in 2004. A stent had been inserted six months ago. He had also been going to a chiropractor in Bengaluru for some months, a close aide told DH.

Reporters were not allowed inside the resort between 10 am and 11 am, triggering a demonstration. Even Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr R Ragapriya and AICC observer and former MP P Viswanathan were blocked by the resort staff.

Prasad is survived by his wife Dr Geetha Prasad and son Ganesh Prasad. A resident of Kuvempunagar in Mysuru, he was a staunch loyalist of chief minister Siddaramaiah. The government on Tuesday declared three days of mourning for minister H S Mahadeva Prasad.

All government offices and educational institutions remained closed on Tuesday.