New Delhi: Former Karnataka Governor and senior Congress leader Hans Raj Bhardwaj passed away here on Sunday. He was 82.

Bhardwaj breathed his last at Max Hospital in New Delhi’s Saket area , where he was admitted on Wednesday due to kidney-related issues. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.

Bhardwaj was the Governor of Karnataka from June 2009 to June 2014. Bhardwaj held the distinction of being the second longest serving Law Minister- Nine years  as Minister of State under Rajiv Gandhi and P.V. Narasimha Rao. 

His tenure as Karnataka Governor saw confrontation with the then BJP Government headed by B.S.Yediyurappa (BSY). Bhardwaj had recommended President’s rule twice when Yediyurappa was the CM, which forced BSY to petition the then President Pratibha Patil to                         recall him.

Bhardwaj also had the distinction of administering oaths to four Karnataka Chief Ministers — B.S.Yediyurappa, D.V.Sadananda Gowda, Jagadish Shettar and Siddharamaiah.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda and other leaders have condoled his death.

Bhardwaj will be cremated at Nigambodh Ghat this evening, according to sources.