Bengaluru:  Former Minister Thippeswamy (76) passed away at a hospital in Bengaluru following a brief illness.

He leaves behind his wife, a son and a daughter.

Having got elected from Challakere constituency, Thippeswamy had served as Excise Minister in H.D. Deve Gowda Cabinet and as Minor Irrigation Minister in J.H. Patel Cabinet.

A tall leader of Nayaka community, Thippeswamy was conferred Sri Maharshi Valmiki Award in 2017 in recognition of his services to the community.

He had also played a keyrole in the setting up of Sri Valmiki Gurupeetha at Rajanahalli in Harihar taluk. Thippeswamy, who began his career with Janata Dal, later joined BJP and became a follower of B.S. Yeddyurappa. But of late, he had kept himself away from electoral politics due to ill-health.