Bengaluru: Very few knew him when BJP chose him to contest from the Hebbal Assembly constituency in 2013. The common criticism then was that former minister Mr Katta Subrahmanya Naidu was trying to retain the constituency through his ‘proxy.’
It did not take long for Mr R Jagadish Kumar (58), who passed away on Monday due to a cardiac arrest to prove his detractors wrong. After his maiden participation in the debate over the state budget, legislators and mediapersons were seen around him, seeking clarifications on complex policy issues.
What made him popular among the media and legislators was his ability to simplify administration jargon. Be it is taxation, excise issues or issues pertaining to urban administrative bodies like BDA, KIADB. Mr Jagadish Kumar used to explain the bureaucratic hurdles, which could be understood by any common man.
Son of a government doctor Dr Prasanna Kumar, Mr Jagadish Kumar studied in various places across the state, before joining RV Engineering college. He was an active member of ABVP and after graduation, he decided to pursue business. He was also member of BS E and was its President for three terms.
A voracious reader of Kannada literature, he got his first political opportunity in 1993. Former Minister Mr Katta Subrahmanya Naidu was planning to contest from Shivajinagar and Mr Kumar had a lot of influence over Vaishya community. Sensing the potential of Mr Kumar, he was made Mandal President and later Bengaluru City General Secretary of BJP.
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