Bharatiya Janata Party Leader Srinivas Prasad Passes Away At 76

Former minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Srinivas Prasad passed away at the age of 76 on Sunday night due to an acute gastrointestinal infection for which he had been admitted to the hospital.

He was undergoing treatment in the ICU at Manipal Hospital, where he was being supported with various medications to maintain his health, according to a health bulletin issued by the hospital earlier on Sunday.

Venkataiah Srinivas Prasad Dies

Venkataiah Srinivas Prasad, known as V Srinivas Prasad, had served as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly representing the Nanjangud constituency and had been elected six times as a member of the Lok Sabha from the Chamarajanagar seat, as reported by Times Now.

Prasad's political retirement was announced on March 17, following the celebration of the golden jubilee of his political career.

Prasad's Political Journey

Prasad began his electoral journey on March 17, 1974, when he contested the by-election to the Krishnaraja Assembly segment. He had been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood until 1972 and had been active in the Jan Sangh and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

After parting ways with the Indian National Congress, Prasad joined the Janata Dal (United) and later returned to the Congress, winning the MLA seat from Nanjangud in 2013. Subsequently, he joined the BJP on December 24, 2016, which led to a by-election in Nanjangud, resulting in his defeat to the Congress candidate in 2017, as reported by Times Now.

During his political career, Srinivas Prasad served as the Minister for Revenue & Muzrai in the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka Government from 2013 to 2016. He also held the position of Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs in the Atal Bihari Vajapayee-led Central Government from 1999 to 2004 as a member of JD(U).

Prasad contested 14 elections, winning eight of them. He contested nine Lok Sabha polls from the Chamarajanagar constituency and emerged victorious in six of them. Srinivas Prasad is survived by his wife Bhagyalakshmi and three daughters: Prathima Prasad, Poornima, and Poonam, as per media reports.

His mortal remains arrived at his residence by 7.30 am on Monday and will be laid at the Dasara Exhibition Grounds in Mysuru at 9 am for the public to pay their respects. Numerous political leaders and dignitaries are expected to pay their respects.