Kolar: Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister R.L. Jalappa passed away at a hospital in Kolar yesterday. He was 96.

Jalappa was suffering from age-related ailments including kidney and lung issues, family and R.L. Jalappa Hospital sources said. The veteran leader was undergoing treatment in ICU for some time now, they said, adding that he was also affected by paralysis and blood clot in the brain for which he had undergone surgeries earlier this year.

“He (Jalappa) passed away at 7.30 pm…he was unwell for the last 15-20 days…the body will be shifted to his native village of Tubagere and the arrangements will be made at our farm house there for people to pay their last respects on Dec. 18. Last rites will be performed at about 4 pm at R.L. Jalappa College campus in Doddaballapura,” his grandson told reporters in Kolar.

The departed leader’s eyes will be donated as per his and family’s wish, hospital sources said.

Jalappa, a four-time Member of Lok Sabha, had also served as Union Minister in the Deve Gowda Cabinet. He was also the Chairman of the Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar.

Born on October 19, 1925, at Rajanukunte in Doddaballapur of Bengaluru Rural, he graduated from Maharaja’s College, Mysuru.

Jalappa was initially with Congress and quit the party with Devaraj Urs who formed the Karnataka Kranti Ranga, which later merged with Janata Party. He then joined Janata Dal and was elected to Lok Sabha in 1996, from Chikballapur and served as Union Minister of Textiles from 1996 to Jan., 1998. He quit Janata Dal and resigned as Minister to rejoin Congress, from which he got re-elected to Lok Sabha, and remained its member till 2009, winning successive elections.

Before becoming MP and Union Minister, Jalappa had served as MLC, MLA and Cabinet Minister in the State Govt. Beginning his political life from a Co-operative field, he was elected as a Director and became Chairman of State Apex Bank. His organisational skills were recognised by former CM Devaraj Urs, who made him a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council. He was MLC from 1980-83. Jalappa, who was MLA from 1983-96, served as Minister in first non-Congress Govt. headed by Ramakrishna Hegde. He served as Cooperation, Home Affairs and Revenue Minister in successive Governments in the State.