BJP leader Ananth Kumar passes away; 3-day mourning declared

Ananth Kumar was one of the few ministers to have served in the earlier NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Union Minister and BJP leader Ananth Kumar died at a private hospital here in Bangalore at 2 AM this morning after battling lung cancer for several months, hospital authorities said.

Ananth Kumar, 59, breathed his last around 2 am with his wife Tejaswini and two daughters by his bedside, Sankara Hospital Director Nagaraj told PTI.

He had come back to Bengaluru only recently after undergoing treatment in the US and Britain. He was later under treatment at the Sankara Hospital here.

BJP sources said the body of Kumar would be kept at the National College Ground, which falls in his Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency, for public homage.

He was one of the few ministers to have served in the earlier NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Kumar passed away from complications following cancer and infections, his party officials said in a statement.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and several political leaders Monday condoled the demise of Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar.

Expressing his condolences, Kovind said the death of Kumar was a tragic loss to public life in the country.

"Sad to hear of the passing of Union minister and veteran parliamentarian Shri H.N. Ananth Kumar. This is a tragic loss to public life in our country and particularly for the people of Karnataka. My condolences to his family, colleagues and countless associates," he tweeted.

Sad to hear of the passing of Union minister and veteran parliamentarian Shri H.N. Ananth Kumar. This is a tragic loss to public life in our country and particularly for the people of Karnataka. My condolences to his family, colleagues and countless associates #PresidentKovind

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 12, 2018

The Prime Minister said he was extremely saddened by the passing away of "my valued colleague and friend" and described him as a remarkable leader, who entered public life at a young age and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion.

He will always be remembered for his good work, Modi said in a tweet.

"Ananth Kumar Ji was an able administrator, who handled many ministerial portfolios and was a great asset to the BJP organisation. He worked hard to strengthen the Party in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru and surrounding areas. He was always accessible to his constituents," he said in another tweet.

Extremely saddened by the passing away of my valued colleague and friend, Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. He was a remarkable leader, who entered public life at a young age and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion. He will always be remembered for his good work.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 12, 2018

The Karnataka government has declared a three-day state mourning till November 14 as a mark of respect to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, who died early in the morning today.