<p>Former MLA of Bhadravathi, M J Appaji Gowda, died of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">Covid -19</a> in District McGann hospital in Shivamogga on Wednesday night. He was 67.</p>.<p>He complained of respiratory disorder three days ago and he was admitted to a private hospital in the city. He was shifted to McGann hospital after he was tested positive for Covid -19 where he breathed his last. He is survived by a son and a daughter. </p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-coronavirus-vaccine-karnataka-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-gujarat-west-bengal-bangalore-mumbai-new-delhi-chennai-kolkata-cases-deaths-recoveries-876781.html" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>He began his career as an employee in Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel Plant in Bhadravathi. He became labour union leader and stepped into politics later. </p>.<p>He had won the assembly elections in 1994 as an independent candidate. He had registered victory against his arch rival B K Sangamesh of Congress in 1999. However, he was defeated by Sangamesh twice. Later, he had embraced JD(S) and had emerged victorious in 2013.</p>.<p>Appaji had registered remarkable victory in 2013 when Congress had fielded C M Ibrahim, close aide of former chief minister Siddaramaiah. Sangamesh had faced the polls as an independent candidate. Sangamesh had defeated Appaji on Congress ticket in 2018.</p>
<p>Former MLA of Bhadravathi, M J Appaji Gowda, died of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">Covid -19</a> in District McGann hospital in Shivamogga on Wednesday night. He was 67.</p>.<p>He complained of respiratory disorder three days ago and he was admitted to a private hospital in the city. He was shifted to McGann hospital after he was tested positive for Covid -19 where he breathed his last. He is survived by a son and a daughter. </p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-coronavirus-vaccine-karnataka-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-gujarat-west-bengal-bangalore-mumbai-new-delhi-chennai-kolkata-cases-deaths-recoveries-876781.html" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>He began his career as an employee in Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel Plant in Bhadravathi. He became labour union leader and stepped into politics later. </p>.<p>He had won the assembly elections in 1994 as an independent candidate. He had registered victory against his arch rival B K Sangamesh of Congress in 1999. However, he was defeated by Sangamesh twice. Later, he had embraced JD(S) and had emerged victorious in 2013.</p>.<p>Appaji had registered remarkable victory in 2013 when Congress had fielded C M Ibrahim, close aide of former chief minister Siddaramaiah. Sangamesh had faced the polls as an independent candidate. Sangamesh had defeated Appaji on Congress ticket in 2018.</p>