Obituary: Former Congress MP and ‘grassroots politician’ R Dhruvanarayana passes away

Dhruvanarayana had chest pain early Saturday and was hospitalised in Mysuru where he was declared dead after a cardiac arrest.

ByBellie Thomas

Published Mar 11, 2023 | 3:08 PM ⚊UpdatedMar 11, 2023 | 3:08 PM

Dhruvanarayana Karnataka Congress leader dies

R Dhruvanarayana, former MP and working president of KPCC passes away in Mysuru. (Supplied)

Former Congress MP and working president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) R Dhruvanarayana passed away at a hospital in Mysuru on Saturday, 11 March, after a cardiac arrest. He was 62 and is survived by his wife and two sons.

Dhruvanarayana was a postgraduate with a master’s degree in Agriculture Science. He represented the Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha constituency twice and won from the the Santemarahalli constituency in the 2004 state Assembly election.

According to sources in the KPCC, Dhruvanarayana was planning to contest from the Nanjangud reserved constituency in the upcoming state Assembly election.

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Remembering contributions

Condolences poured in from various quarters following the demise of the leader — not only from Congress party leaders and workers’ communities, but also from other political parties.

“Dhruvanarayana’s demise is a big blow to the farming community. He was the farmers’ looked-upon representative, and the go-to person for all of their issues,” Karnataka Kisan Congress President Sachin Meega told South First.

“He was an amazing leader who always related to the downtrodden. He was pro-farmer and led several delegations of farmers during the UPA government to meet with senior ministers in Delhi, who worked out solutions for their issues,” Meega said.

Dhruvanarayan with his delegation meeting with then-Union minister Pranab Mukherjee. (File Photo)

Dhruvanarayan with his delegation meeting with then-Union minister Pranab Mukherjee. (File Photo)

He continued, “Dhruvanarayana focused on the arecanut farmers and the coffee-growing farmers, who were the most affected at that time. There was even a threat of ‘banning’ arecanut farming following the Ankur Gutkha vs Indian Asthma Care Society case. The Supreme Court directed the state governments that had banned the sale and manufacture of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco to file compliance reports and state governments that have not banned such sales to file affidavits stating why they have not implemented a ban.”

“It was Dhruvanarayan who led the delegations of arecanut farmers not once, but several times. He took them to New Delhi and fixed appointments through the then minister of labour Oscar Fernandez with Pranab Mukherjee, Chidambaram, Kamal Nath, and Anand Sharma. He helped the arecanut farmers get a good package for farming in 2012 and also resolved their grievances.” Meega recalled.

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The beloved middle man

According to the Karnataka Kisan Congress President, Dhurvanarayana played a vital role in the coffee package that was granted by the government in 2008-2009.

With Mallikarjun Kharge, Veerappa Moily and others

With Mallikarjun Kharge, Veerappa Moily, others

Dhurvanarayana was the key person communicating and coordinating with senior leaders in Delhi and the farmers at the grassroots level in Karnataka, and he had successfully taken more than 15 farmer delegations to Delhi from Karnataka.

Dhruvanarayana would also negotiate meetings with Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad who was the Union Health Minister in the UPA regime then.

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain told South First, “Dhruvanarayana was one of the finest human beings, a principled leader, soft spoken yet firm in his convictions. He would fight for social justice and corruption-free politics and that made him the leader of the masses. It is not just a loss for the Congress, not just a loss for the people of Chamarajanagar, but also a huge loss for me personally.”

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Condolences pour in

Soon after the leader’s demise, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Saddened by the sudden demise of former MP Shri R Dhruvanarayana. A hard-working & humble grassroots leader, he was a champion of social justice who rose through the ranks of NSUI & Youth Congress. His passing is a huge loss to Congress party. My condolences to his family.”

KPCC National President Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted, “Deeply anguished & pained by the passing away of R Dhruvanarayana. He was not just a grassroots politician, but the finest human being. His demise is not just the loss for @INCIndia, but a huge personal loss or me as well. My thoughts are with his family and followers.”

Priyanka Gandhi tweeted, “Deeply saddened to hear about the death of Dhruvanarayana Ji former MP and working president of KPCC. His contribution to public service and commitment to social justice will always be remembered. My condolences to his family and friends.”

Former chief minister and CLP leader Siddaramaiah expressed grief on the untimely death of the party leader and stated he was “shocked by the unfortunate and untimely demise of the @INCKarnataka leader, former MP and dear friend Shri R Dhurvanarayan. My deepest condolences to his family members and well wishers.”

AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, “No words can describe the irreparable loss of our ever smiling friend, our leader and easily the most dedicated foot soldier of Congress, Shri Dhruvanarayan. Dedicated to the cause of poor, an avid champion of the downtrodden, we will miss u forever my friend. RIP.”

KPCC state president DK Shivakumar said that Dhruvanarayana’s service to people and his politics is certainly a history. He stated that he was a dear friend and “gave excellent advice when making difficult decisions. His personality was always cheerful without hurting anyone’s heart. May his soul rest in peace,” tweeted Shivakumar.

Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal tweeted, “Shocked at the passing away of KPCC working president R Dhruvanarayana Ji. He will be remembered for his commitment to the Congress through thick and thin, and his illustrious tenure in Parliament. My condolences to his family and well wishers in this time of grief. He always stood with the common people and dedicated his life to the service of the poor and downtrodden. He was a reliable and hard working colleague and his painful departure has left a void that will be difficult to fill,” he tweeted.

Dhruvanarayan with senior Congress leaders in the UPA regime

Dhruvanarayana with senior Congress leaders in the UPA regime. (Supplied)

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated, ” Steadfast commitment to Congress ideology and values. Very hard-working & dedicated MP. Did much to make Bharat Jodo Yatra a huge success in Karnataka. The sudden demise is so very saddening.”

Congress leader Krishna Byre Gowda tweeted, “Dhruva started without any political background as a student activist, went on to become MLA, MP and Working President of K’taka Pradesh Congress. Very dear friend, highly respected leader and devoted family man. Great loss to his family and people. I mourn the loss of my friend.”

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Opposition mourns too

It was not only the Congress party workers or JD(S) leaders who were fans of Dhruvanarayana’s work, but also BJP leaders and party workers who looked up to Dhruvanarayana’s ideologies.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Saturday, “Dhruvanarayan was a close friend of mine. Though he was in the Opposition, we have engaged in discussions on people’s welfare and social justice as both of us knew that our thinking was alike. Being a two-time minister and two-times MP, he has done his bit — more than one could do — not only for the people of Chamarajanagar, but also the people of the entire state.

“I am still unable to believe that he is no more and I am not unable to digest the news. He was so active and running around. His speeches in public were overwhelming and garnered a lot of support. We have lost a committed politician.

“His final rites will be done with full state honour. Let his soul rest in peace and I offer my condolences to his family and friends.”

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