Bagalkote: Former Union Minister and newly-elected Congress MLA Siddu B. Nyamagouda (70) died in a road accident in the district in the wee hours of today, a senior Police official said.
The MLA was returning from Goa to his Constituency Jamkhandi when he met with an accident near Tulasigeri at about 4.30 am. The incident occurred after the left tyre of the Innova car, in which he was travelling, burst and the car rammed into a road side parapet wall. He died on the way to the hospital.
The MLA was in New Delhi and had returned to Goa by flight before he proceeded to his Constituency by car, according to the Police.
He leaves behind his wife, two sons and three daughters.
Siddappa Bhimappa Nyamagouda was one of the 78 Congress MLAs, who was elected to the Karnataka Assembly in May 12 polls. He was also a contender for a Ministerial berth in the new Congress-JD(S) government headed by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.
Siddu Nyamagouda was re-elected from Jamkhandi by defeating his nearest rival BJP’s Shrikanth Subbarao Kulkarni by over 2,500 votes.
Nyamagouda was the Union Minister in the P.V. Narasimha Rao Cabinet in 1991.
Condoled: Karnataka Congress tweeted a condolence message after the death of the law-maker: “Deepest condolences on the passing away of our senior leader and Jamkhandi MLA, Shri Siddu B. Nyamagouda. The Congress party stands by his family in this hour of grief,” the tweet read.
Former CM Siddharamaiah also condoled his death. “The untimely death of our party MLA Siddu Nyamagouda has shocked me. Siddu Nyamagouda served as an MLA, an MP and Union Minister. My friend will be missed,” Siddharamaiah tweeted in Kannada.
Bandh called off: Following Nyamagouda’s death, the Bagalkote District BJP Unit called off today’s bandh as a mark of respect for the departed leader.
Hearty condolences to legislator Sri.Siddu Nyamagouda who has passed away in a road mishap.I have fond memories of covering his pioneering role in the construction of the Chikpadasalagi barrage across River Krishna the first ever irrigation venture by the farmers themselves in near Jamakhandi in Bagalakote district of Karnataka for Deccan Herald and Prajavani. Sri Nyamagowda stormed into political arena in a sensational manner defeating former Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri Ramakrishna Hegde in an electoral battle.He was not only a people’s man known for hard work but also belonged to the vanishing breed of gentlemen in our politics.Rest in peace.
Heartfelt condolences! Congress lost one if the very few honest men who was serious about serving his people! I always wondered how this person is in Congress, while he doesn’t fit the corrupt and high command culture! One of the very few who had no scams and charges!