Sad news! Union minister Ananth Kumar passes away at 59

Union Minister Ananth Kumar passed away at the age of 59 today in the wee hours on Monday. As he was battling with cancer for a long time and has been hospitalised in Bengaluru.

The BJP leader health condition was not well for the last few months. He was suffering from pancreatic cancer.

"Kumar passed away around 1.55 am on Monday," said BJP state treasurer Subbanarayana.

Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda has extended his condolences to the 59-year-old minister and tweeted, “Shocked , it’s unbelievable , My friend , Brother Ananthkumar is no more.”

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also expressed sorrow over the demise of Ananth Kumar and wrote, “Deep sense of grief on hearing that Shri @AnanthKumar_BJP is no more with us. Served @BJP4India @BJP4Karnataka all along. Bengaluru was in his head and heart, always. May God give his family the strength to bear with this loss.”

He has become a six-time member of Parliament from the Bengaluru and has been handling two key ministries- serving as Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers since May 2014 and as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs since July 2016 in the Narendra Modi government.

Meanwhile, Karnataka government has declared a 3-day mourning period for BJP leader and Union minister Ananth Kumar.

Ananth Kumar was born on 22 July 1959 in Bengaluru. He completed his graduation in faculty of Arts (B.A) from K S Arts College, Hubli affiliated to the Karnataka University and later, completed his bachelors in law (L.L.B) from J.S.S. Law College affiliated to the Karnataka University.

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He is survived by two daughters– Aishwarya and Vijeta and wife Tejaswini.

-With ANI inputs