Former Karnataka Minister Hanume Gowda dies of multiple organ failure

Hassan, May 14: Former minister K H Hanume Gowda died at a hospital here last evening after prolonged illness. He was 87.

He is survived by three sons and two daughters. He was admitted to a private hospital in Hassan a week ago and breathed his last following failure of multiple organs. 

Mr. Gowda, a four-time MLA from Hassan, was Minister for Command Area Development Authority for a brief period in the Veerappa Moily government.

He was elected to the State Assembly in 1972 on National Congress (Organisation) ticket. He was re-elected in 1978 as an Indian National Congress leader. He won from Hassan again in 1989 from the Congress. Later, he joined the BJP in 1996 and won an Assembly seat in 1999.

Later in life, he severed ties with the BJP as well. He contested from Hassan in 2008 on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket, but lost. In the 2013 elections, he announced support for Congress candidate H.K. Mahesh. More recently, he had kept himself away from public events because of health issues.