Former Karnataka Chief Minister Sarekoppa Bangarappa, who left a unique imprint in his more than four-decade-long chequered political career marked by frequent party-hopping, died here on Monday after a brief illness.
The 79-year-old backward class leader, who was suffering from kidney-related problems, was undergoing treatment in a private hospital since December 7 and breathed his last around 0045 hours, family sources said. A stormy petrel of state politics, Bangarappa is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.
In his political journey that began as a socialist, Bangarappa quit Congress half a dozen times, re-joined it as many times, floated his own outfits Karnataka Kranti Ranga and Karnataka Congress party and even joined BJP and Samajwadi party.
In his last political stop, he was in JD(S) headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, with his demise bringing the colourful political chapter of a maverick leader to an end.
Bangarappa who began his legislative career in 1967 when he was elected to the state assembly, won from Soraba for at least six terms without a break.
He was chief minister between 1990-92 and was eased out of office after he rebelled against then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao following which he floated the KCP, causing defeat of the Congress in the 1994 polls.
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Bangarappa, who had also served in the Devaraj Urs cabinet, was a Lok Sabha member for three terms in 1996, 1999 and 2003, twice as BJP MP.
Born to a poor couple in nondescript Kabatur village in Malnad district of Shimoga on October 26, 1932, Bangarappa was more known for his rebellious acts among his political associates. Hailing from the Idiga community, he emerged as a powerful backward class leader but lost the zeal mid-way due to frequent party-hopping.
Krishna said Bangarappa was a great visionary and had many plans for Karnataka, but could not do so due to his short tenure as chief minister. “Though he joined many parties, my friendship with Bangarappa remained,” he said. Union Ministers Salman Khurshid, Veerappa Moily and K H Muniyappa also condoled the death.
Khurshid said Bangarappa inspired the cause of all politicians who worked for emancipation of the downtrodden and the marginalised. “During his bright political career, he was in every avatar an inspiration for others,” he added.
Moily said Bangarappa, till his last breath, was active in politics. “I knew Bangarappa for the last four decades... We were good friends,” he said. State BJP President K S Eshwarappa said Bangarappa’s death was a great loss to Dalits and Backward Caste community.
Former Chief Minister and State JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy said Bangarappa’s death was a personal loss as he was a father-figure to him. Bangarappa was a great Backward Caste leader and fought for societal equanimity, KPCC President G Parameshwara said. Home Minister R Ashok also condoled the death.