Mysore/Mysuru: Former MLA from Chickpet in Bengaluru and senior Congress leader R.V. Devaraj (67) passed away here yesterday following heart attack.

Devaraj, who was to celebrate his 68th birthday on Dec. 3, was travelling to Chamundi Hill in a car yesterday (Dec. 1) to seek the blessings of the deity, when he complained of severe chest pain, following which he was rushed to Apollo BGS Hospitals in city and subsequently shifted to Mysuru Jayadeva Hospital, where he breathed his last after failing to respond to treatment.

Devaraj, who was born on Dec. 3, 1957, had served as Chamarajpet Congress MLA from 1989 to 1999 and later as Chickpet MLA. He had served as KSRTC Chairman from 2000 to 2007 and was appointed as Chairman of Karnataka Slum Development Board in 2016.

His body was taken to his residence at Bengaluru last evening, it is learnt.