The death of JD(S) State president A Krishnappa has created a vacuum of sorts in the party.
The seasoned politician, who quit the Congress to join the JD(S) early last year, was one of the prominent leaders in the party from a non-Vokkaliga background.
The JD(S) had expected Krishnappa to counter the Congress leadership vis-a-vis its clout among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
On Wednesday, Krishnappa’s body was brought from his home in Devasandra to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) in the city, so that people can pay their last respects.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister K J George and Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda were among the dignitaries who came to BVB to pay their last respects.
‘New president’
JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Revanna represented the JD(S), along with top leaders from the party like M C Nanaiah, Basavaraj Horatti and H C Neeravari.
The JD(S) will have to look for a new State president, following Krishnappa’s demise. The party will hold a meeting later in the month to discuss the issue.
Krishnappa was laid to rest at 5.30 pm on Wednesday on the premises of a school owned by his family-run South East Asian Education Trust in Devasandra.