The six-time MP from Chamarajanagar and two-time MLA from Nanjangud in Mysuru district was ailing for some time.
BJP MP Sreenivasa Prasad. (X)
Veteran politician, BJP MP and former Union Minister V Sreenivasa Prasad died on Monday, 29 April, his family said.
The 76-year-old Lok Sabha member from Chamarajnagar was ailing for some time and was being treated at a private hospital, where he passed away early on Monday.
Prasad is survived by wife and three daughters.
He was a six-time MP from Chamarajanagar and also served as MLA from Nanjangud in Mysuru district for two terms.
On 18 March this year, Prasad announced his retirement from electoral politics, marking his 50 years in public life.
#Karnataka: @BJP4India’s incumbent MP V Srinivas Prasad, 76, breathed last as he suffered heart attack. He is a six-time MP from Chamarajanagar & two-time MLA.
In his over four-decade-long political career, he also served as union minister & state cabinet minister. pic.twitter.com/LEjfBbQmvj
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 29, 2024
He first contested Assembly elections as an independent in 1974.
Prasad joined the erstwhile Janata Party in 1976 and switched over to the Congress in 1979. He also had a stint with the JD(S), JD (U), and the Samata Party before crossing over to the BJP.
Prasad served as the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1999 to 2004.
He returned to the Congress fold later, got elected as an MLA in 2013 and became Revenue Minister in the Siddaramaiah government.
In 2016, Prasad resigned from the Assembly and rejoined the BJP. He contested the 2017 Nanjangud bypolls on a BJP ticket but lost. He then successfully fought the Lok Sabha election from Chamarajanagar in 2019.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the death of Sreenivasa Prasad, describing him as a champion of social justice who devoted his life to the welfare of the poor, downtrodden and marginalised.
He said on X, “I am extremely pained by the passing away of senior leader and MP from Chamarajanagar, Shri V. Sreenivasa Prasad Ji. He was a champion of social justice, having devoted his life to the welfare of the poor, downtrodden and marginalised.”
He was very popular for his various works of community service, Modi said, conveying condolences to his family and supporters.
I am extremely pained by the passing away of senior leader and MP from Chamarajanagar, Shri V. Sreenivasa Prasad Ji. He was a champion of social justice, having devoted his life to the welfare of the poor, downtrodden and marginalised. He was very popular for his various works of…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 29, 2024
Condoling his death, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described Prasad as a strong voice for the oppressed Dalits.
“The departure of the leader who lived the struggle against injustice and inequality is a big setback for the political struggle for social justice in the state,” he added.
“He was a progressive-thinking political leader. Although we worked in different parties for a long time in old Mysuru region, we maintained a respectful relationship with each other. When I met him recently, we reminisced. I never thought Prasad would leave us so soon,” the CM said.
BJP stalwart and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said: ‘I met him only a few days ago and I can’t believe that he is not with us now. He was recognised as an influential Dalit leader who had made his mark in the politics of the state and the country.”
(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)
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