Former Union Minister Basavarajeshwari died

Bellary, Karnataka, Feb 19 (UNI) Former Union Minister and three time Lok Sabha Member from Bellary, Basavarajeshwari, died here today after a prolonged illness.

She was 86. She was survived by four sons and four daughters.

A prominent Congress leader belonging to Lingayat community she served the party for over four decades and became the Union Minister of State for Woman and Child Welfare under Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao during 1993-96.

After quitting Congress she had joined BJP in 2004.

She was elected to Lok Sabha thrice from Bellary, while she was also a three time member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and also represented Legislative Council once. She was elected to the Assembly from Manvi segment in Raichur district between 1977-84. She had also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly.

Ailing for more than one year, she died at BMC hospital run by her son.

The burial would take place at her native village Gejjalaghatta in Raichur district tomorrow, family sources said.

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