Chikmagalur: Y.C. Vishwanath (68), former Kadur MLA and a doctor, died at a private hospital in Bengaluru after a brief illness on Sunday.

He leaves behind two sons and a daughter. His wife Suvarnamma had passed away a few months ago.

Vishwanath, a government doctor, quit his job to contest for the State Assembly on the BJP ticket in 1999. He contested twice but lost. He won in the by-election necessitated following the death of Congress MLA K.M. Krishnamurthy in 2010. He was MLA for only three years. He did not contest the elections in 2013.

This time, he supported BJP candidate Belli Prakash and also participated in the victory celebrations of the candidate on May 15, the counting day.

Vishwanath developed health complications after the victory celebrations and was rushed to a private hospital in Bengaluru, where he breathed his last yesterday. Last rites will be held at his native village Yellambalase in Kadur taluk today.