Bengaluru: Former MLC S.M. Shankar (83), younger brother of former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader S.M. Krishna, passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru early this morning following prolonged illness.

He leaves behind his wife M.C. Nagaveni, son Gurucharan, a former Mandya ZP President, daughter Chaitra and a host of relatives and friends.

Former CM S.M. Krishna, Mandya MP Sumalatha and a host of other political leaders visited the hospital and paid their last respects to the departed soul.

Last rites will be performed at his native village Somanahalli in Maddur taluk of Mandya district later this evening, according to sources.