"He passed away this evening. He had gone to play at a nearby college club at K R Puram where he suffered a heart attack," party sources said. He was shifted to a hospital but did not survive, they said.
Asked whether there would be a repoll in the light of Krishnappa's death, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Anilkumar Jha said, "First we have to complete the process of counting and a decision will be taken after the results come out."
On whether there would be a repoll for the Tumkur seat if Krishnappa wins the elections, Jha said, "In that case, there will be repoll, but we have to wait for the completion of the electoral process."
A backward classes leader, Krishnappa had taken over as JDS state unit chief in September last year.
Krishnappa was with the Congress for over three decades but had shifted his loyalties to JDS after he was denied the ticket to contest the Assembly polls in May last year.
Krishnappa, who began his political career in 1985 when he was elected from Varthur Assembly constituency, was a four-time member of the Assembly.
He had held different portfolios as Minister for Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sugar and Social Welfare over a period of eight years.
Krishnappa has been running a string of educational institutions for nearly four decades. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
Condoling the death of Krishnappa, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had earned the recognition of people as a labour leader, backward class leader and an efficient Minister.The state has lost a popular leader, he said.
Former Prime Minister and JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda expressed shock and grief over the death.
Former Chief Minister and leader of opposition in the assembly Jagadish Shettar also expressed grief.
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