Karnataka - Bangalore   

G. Puttaswamy Gowda passes away

Special Correspondent

G. Puttaswamy Gowda

BANGALORE: G. Puttaswamy Gowda, former Congress Minister and MP, passed away at the M.S. Ramaiah Hospital here on Friday.

A `giant killer'

Hassan Staff Correspondent reports:

Mr. Puttaswamy Gowda was born to Sannamma and Gidde Gowda on June 20, 1937, in Keregodu village in Holenarsipur taluk.

Though the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda made him MLC, Mr. Puttaswamy Gowda later joined the Congress. He defeated Mr. Deve Gowda in the elections held to Assembly and Parliament. He lost to H.D. Revanna twice in the elections held to the Assembly. He contested in the elections to Legislative Assembly in 1985 against Mr. Deve Gowda and lost to him by a margin of 3,167 votes. Undeterred, he again contested on Congress ticket against Mr. Deve Gowda in the elections to Assembly in 1989 and defeated him by a margin of 7,836 votes. Terming him as a "giant killer," the then Chief Minister Veerendra Patil made him Minister for Irrigation and Public Works. In the elections to the Assembly in 1994, he faced H.D. Revanna and lost to him by a margin of 122 votes. When Mr. Deve Gowda contested the elections to Parliament in 1999, he defeated him by a margin of 1,41,757 votes. Refusing to contest against Mr. Deve Gowda in the elections to Parliament in 2004, he faced Mr. Revanna in Holenarsipur and got defeated by a margin of 32,594 votes.

He lost his son in 1998 and is survived by a daughter. According to sources, the body will be cremated in his native village of Keregodu on Saturday.

Condolences

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has expressed grief over the passing away of Mr. Puttaswamy Gowda. Mr. Kumaraswamy went to the residence of the former Minister in Bangalore to pay his last respects. He said, "Mr. Puttaswamy Gowda was a committed politician and a man of principles, and was compassionate and courteous. May God give strength to the members of the bereaved family to bear the loss."

Governor of Maharashtra S.M. Krishna has said that Mr. Puttaswamy Gowda who rose from the ranks in politics was a senior political leader of the State. He took keen interest in the problems of the common people and played a leading role in rehabilitating people displaced by the Hemavathi project.

Union Minister of State for Shipping and Road Transport K.H. Muniyappa said that Mr. Puttaswamy Gowda was a senior leader of the Vokkaliga community.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Dissidence has emerged in coalition partners, says Dharam Singh
Work on Bangalore Metro Rail project to start soon
Three persons murdered in separate incidents in city
J.C. Road needs better attention
G. Puttaswamy Gowda passes away
Festivals are no more solemn religious occasions
Well-known journalist Jayasheela Rao felicitated
Filmmaking is a passion for them
Reviving the forgotten art of flying kites
`Government committed to quality education'
State considering three plans on Greater Bangalore Corporation
Recognising talent among youth in State
Government agrees to reinstate employee
`Krishna's re-entry will revive Congress'
KPTCL signs MoA with electrification commission
Connect 2006 from Sept. 8
Case against Coca Cola
Appointed
Power shutdown today
Around the City
In Basngalore Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu