Mysuru: JD(S) MLA from H.D. Kote S. Chikkamadu (68), passed away at a private hospital here in the wee hours of Wednesday. Chikkamadu was suffering from liver problem since one year.

Chikkamadu is survived by two wives – Jayamma and Nagamma and two sons and two daughters. One of his sons, Anil is a Zilla Panchayat member.

The body of Chikkamadu, a prominent Nayaka community leader was kept for public viewing at H.D. Kote, Saragur, Bilikere and Hosur Kallahalli in Hunsur and later taken to his native village Hosa Ramenahalli in K.R. Nagar taluk. Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and his cabinet colleagues Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa and Tanveer Sait, MPs R. Dhruvanarayan and Pratap Simha, former Minister A.H. Vishawanath District BJP President Kote M. Shivanna and many other leaders paid their last respects.

Siddharamaiah said the death of Chikkamadu has pained him as he had worked hard for the empowerment of SC / ST and deprived sections.

“Although he was from a different party, we enjoyed a good relationship and I had respect for his struggle for the cause of deprived sections,” he said.

Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy along with MP C.S. Puttaraju, MLAs S.R. Mahesh and Madhu Bangarappa and other party leaders placed wreaths on the body of Chikkamadu.

Speaking on the occasion, Kumaraswamy said the death of the senior leader was a major loss to the party. He also recalled Chikkamadu’s commitment to organise the party from grassroot levels.

Chikkamadu cremated: Chikkamadu was cremated at Hosa Ramenahalli. The cremation was attended by District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, former Minister Satish Jarakiholi, MLA G.T. Devegowda, former Minister PGR Sindhia and a host of other leaders.

Political journey: Chikkamadu, a B.Sc graduate, was a farmer before entering politics in 1977 by contesting the then Mysore Lok Sabha constituency as an Independent. However, he was defeated by Tulasidasappa, who had contested on a Congress ticket. Despite several defeats, Chikkamadu was elected as an MLA for two terms and was an MLC once.

In 1983, Chikkamadu contested as an independent from Hunsur constituency and lost. However, he was elected as ZP member from Bilikere in 1986 and later joined the Congress when S. Bangarappa was the Chief Minister.

He was elected as MLA for the first time in 1991 in the Hunsur Assembly by-election on a Congress ticket, by defeating C.H. Vijayashankar of the BJP.

However, he was defeated by V. Papanna of the BJP in the 1999 election. In 2004, he again contested on a Congress ticket, but was defeated by G.T. Devegowda of the JD(S). In 2005, he joined the JD(S) and was elected as an MLC in 2006.

He was defeated by H.P. Manjunath of the Congress in the 2008 Assembly polls, contesting from Hunsur Assembly segment.

He contested from H.D. Kote (ST reserved) constituency on a JD(S) ticket in 2013 Assembly polls by defeating Chikkanna of the Congress