Union MinisterH N Ananth Kumarclimbed the political ladder in the BJP from the grassroots and nurtured an ambition of becoming Chief Minister of Karnataka, which he almost achieved, if not for circumstances. A six-term MP representing Bengaluru South constituency in the Lok Sabha continuously since 1996, Ananth Kumar never tasted electoral defeat.
Read obit by Vijesh Kamath of DH here.
Ananth Kumar's mortal remains, which has been taken to his Basavangudi residence, will be kept for public viewing at the National College Grounds from 10 am onwards tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to arrive at Bengaluru later in the day ahead of the cremation of Ananth Kumar.
Expressing the condolences, BJP president Amit Shah wrote: "I am grief stricken to learn about the untimely demise of our senior leader and union minister Shri Ananth Kumar ji. He served the nation and organisation with unparalleled zeal and dedication. Ananth ji worked tirelessly to strengthen the BJP in the state of Karnataka. Ananth ji was a remarkable administrator who served various ministerial portfolios. His passing away has left a void in the BJP and Indian polity that can not be filled soon. May God give his family & supporters strength to bear this tragic loss. My deepest condolences. Om Shanti"
The state government has declared three-day mourning and a holiday to government employees and schools and colleges on Monday. The national flag will fly at half mast in the state capital.
Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah cancels his Belagavi tour.
Mangalore University has postponed the UG semester examinations scheduled to be held today following the holiday declared by thestate government. Registrar Prof A M Khan said that the next date of the exam will be informed to the colleges later.
"Tdy is a sad sad day - my brother, my friend, my mentor @AnanthKumar_BJP passes away. He was family to me - He was one of my few real friends in politics n a genuinely good human being ! I will miss him hugely #OmShanthi n Farewell my dear friend. U left too soon," he tweeted.
Condoling Kumar's death, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said he has lost a great friend. "Our families had a friendship beyond politics. He always valued and had given priority to our friendship. I have lost a great friend in his death. He was a value based politician, who made significant contribution to the country as an MP and Union Minister. His pro people attitude and activities had made him apple of eyes of Bengalureans. May his soul rest in peace and may God give the strength to his family and his followers to endure this loss," he said.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Cabinet ministers will come. I’m told even LK Advani is coming. Leaders from all parties will come,"said Chickpet BJP MLA Uday Garudachar.
"Heartfelt condolences at the sad demise of Shri. Ananthkumar. May God give his family the strength to bear this loss," former cricketer Anil Kumble tweeted.
Many children went half way or even reached schools and then were sent back home. This is because the official circular reached them late say schools.
#AnanthKumar's body, which has been taken to his Basavangudi residence, will be kept for public viewing at the National College Grounds from 8 am onwards. | #RIPAnanthKumar (#DH_Video by Jananrdhan BK) pic.twitter.com/a9LWjOZS6i
— Deccan Herald (@DeccanHerald) November 12, 2018
Former Deputy CM R Ashoka: The funeral will be held at Chamarajpet tomorrow around 1 pm
Mortal remains will betaken to the BJP Office in Malleswaram at 7 am tomorrow and later to National College Grounds for the public to pay homage.
Kuvempu University has postponed the degree examinations slated to be held today. The University Registrar H S Bhojya Naik told DH the revised date of the examinations would be informed to principals of first-grade colleges shortly.
Examinations being conducted by Gulbarga University have also been postponed.
BBMP has declared a holiday to all its offices, except essential services like hospitals and market.
The University of Mysore has declared a holiday and postponed all the examination scheduled for Monday. In-charge Vice chancellor Aisha Sharieff confirmed that examination has been postponed and said the next date will be announced soon.
BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa arrives at Ananth Kumar’s residence in Basavanagudi.
Governor Vajubhai Vala arrives at Ananth Kumar’s residence.
Filmmaker TN Seetharam speaking to media at Ananth Kumar’s residence after paying tributes.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar discusses bundobust with DCP (South) Annamalai outside Ananth Kumar’s house.
Courts declare holiday in view of the demise of Union MinisterAnanth Kumar.
Congress leader and former minister MB Patil arrives at Ananth Kumar’s house.
“In 2004, when my father (S Bangarappa) and others joined the BJP, Ananth Kumar made them feel welcome. For him, party loyalty was supreme and above everything else. There’s no replacement for Ananth Kumar,” saidBJP leader Kumar Bangarappa.
“I’ve lost a dear friend. We didn’t expect he’d leave us so soon. He was elected to the Lok Sabha six times in a row. A diligent administrator who always had a smile on his face. For any problem in the NDA, Ananth Kumar was the go-to man,”Revenue Minister RV Deshpande.
Senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa said: “Ananth Kumar was the main pillar for the party in Karnataka. I’ve lost not only a friend but a brother. Ananth Kumar’s brain and Yeddyurappa’s brawn. This combination helped the party greatly.”
Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan: “Nobody expected him to leave so soon. When I became a legislator the first time, he was the MP and supported me in every way possible.”
A condolence meeting will be held at Parliament House in New Delhi and will be presided over by Union ministers Vijay Goel and Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Passing out parade of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) special women and men police constables which had been scheduled for November 13 (Tuesday) has been postponed.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister G Parameshwar wasto review the parade.
Member of Parliament Suresh Angadi and MLA Abhay Patil condoled the death of Union Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Anant Kumar on Monday.
Angadi called Anant Kumar his guru and guide who along with BJP statepresident B S Yeddyurappa organised and built the party in Karnataka. Angadi said Anant Kumar had inspired him to contest the parliamentary elections and also gave him party candidature.
Abhay Patil said that Anant Kumar’s demise was a personal loss to him as he was an inspiration and strongest supporter for ordinary party workers like him to join politics for 'Jan Seva'.
"My deepest condolences on the untimely demise of Shri Ananth Kumar. Too young to go, he was a politician of the old school for whom differences weren't acrimonious. He will be missed across the political spectrum. May God give strength to his family and friends to bear this loss."
Deputy CM Parameshwara, Speaker Ramesh Kumar and Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge pay homage to Ananth Kumar at his residence.
“Ananth Kumar was always smiling and that’s what I’ll remember. There was much more for himto achieve...there was so much more he wanted to accomplish.”
Former chief minister and Union minister S M Krishna has arrived at Ananth Kumar’s residence to offer condolences.
KLE Society Chairman and Rajya Sabha Member Prabhakar Kore condoled the death of Union Chemical and Fertilisers Minister Anant Kumar, who was also an alumnus of KLEinstitution.
In his condolence message, Kore termed Anant Kumar as a tall leader in Indian politics who played a vital role in building the BJP at the state and national level and implemented developmental projects as a minister.
"Anant Kumar was also an alumnus of KLE Society and a witness to the development of the institution. His demise has created a vacuum. On behalf of KLE Society, we condole his death," Kore said.
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who was taking rest at a private resort near H D Kote, Mysuru, left for Bengaluru by road.
He is likely to visit Ananth Kumar's residence to pay final respects. The CM, along with family, was taking restin the resort since the last three days based on doctor's advice.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Bengaluru by 7.15 pm today.
Union Minister #AnanthKumar (59) passed away within six months after being diagnosed for Adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that affects the lungs. | #RIPAnanthKumar #LungCancerhttps://t.co/bYREJsavLR
— Deccan Herald (@DeccanHerald) November 12, 2018
The untimely demise of Union minister #AnanthKumar has left a void in the state BJP leadership, something which the party is bound to find hard to fill. | #KarnatakaPolitics #Karnataka @BJP4Karnataka #RIPAnanthKumar https://t.co/qBoNCS66uK
— Deccan Herald (@DeccanHerald) November 12, 2018
The Facebook page of 'Mangalore Muslims' has posted a derogatory post on the demise of Union minister #AnanthKumar. | #RIPAnanthKumar #Mangaluruhttps://t.co/mjCtE15hkn
— Deccan Herald (@DeccanHerald) November 12, 2018
“Saddened at the passing away of Ananth Kumar ji, six-time MP and Union Cabinet Minister. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and supporters,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to arrive in Bengaluru at 8.30 pm.
The army took over possession of the mortal remains of Ananth Kumar from his family. The army will make all arrangements for the funeral.
B S Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar are two of the tallest leaders in the Karnataka unit of the BJP. The duo is credited with building the party in the state and in also ensuring that the BJP formed its first-ever government in South India.
As the party now stands at the crossroads over finding a capable leader to steer it towards the future, Yeddyurappa shared his feelings with Bharath Joshi of Deccan Herald. FULL ARTICLE:Yeddyurappa reminiscences: Ananth Kumar was lawyer, but I made him politician
Trains from Hubballi will have additional bogies to accommodate people who are coming to Bengaluru to attend the funeral. Ananth Kumar played a key role in getting the South-Western Railway Zone headquarters at Hubballi.
Mangaluru Police Commissionerregistered a suo-motu case against the admin of a Facebook page 'Mangalore Muslims'for a derogatory post against Ananth Kumar calling him communal.
* Ananth Kumar held discussions with the Union Minister of Railways for the speedy implementation of the Suburban Rail in Bengaluru
*He also facilitated the central government’s decision in September 2016 to pay for 50% of the costs of the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) to decongest the city’s Outer Ring Road
*Kumar advocated the need for a ring road to connect satellite towns and taluk centres around Bengaluru as a task force member of the Agenda for Bangalore Infrastructure and Development (ABIDe)
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy receives Narendra Modi at HAL airport. Modi will pay homage to his cabinet colleague Ananth Kumar.
In the 20 odd years as a Parliamentarian, Union Minister Ananth Kumar’s contribution to Karnataka, especially Bengaluru are manifold
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Today, Ananth Kumar’s mortal remains will be kept for public viewing at the BJP headquarters in Malleswaram from 8 am till 10 am. The body will be shifted to National High School grounds in Basavanagudi and kept there till 12.30 pm. Kumar will be cremated at the Chamarajpet crematorium at 1 pm.
Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister forScience & Technology, Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Ministry of Earth Sciences paid tributes to Ananth Kumar on Monday night.
A young Ananth Kumar takes part in a 'puja' attended by JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda. Also seen is former minister V Somanna. (Pic: Department of Information and Public Relations)
Union Cabinet condoles the death of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar. @DeccanHerald
— Sagar Kulkarni (@coolcarni) November 13, 2018
A sea of humanity descends on National College Ground to pay tribute to their departed leader.
Ananth Kumar's body is being shifted to the crematorium at Chamarajpet. The funeral is scheduled at 1 pm.
Mortal remains of Union Minister Ananth Kumar cremated with full state honours at Chamarajpet Crematorium in Bengaluru.