BENGALURU: Former Lok Sabha member D.B. Chandregowda (87) died on Tuesday owing to illness at Dadarahalli in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru while his last rites will be performed on Wednesday at Poornachandra Estate in Dadarahalli.
Chandregowda vacated his Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha seat for late Indira Gandhi in 1978 and strived hard for her success in the by-poll. Indira Gandhi won the by-poll.
President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recalled the 1978 by-poll for Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha seat and said that Chandregowda made way for Indira Gandhi then. The sacrifice of Chandregowda came at a crucial time for both Congress party and also for Indira Gandhi.
He quit Congress party to join Janata Party and later re-joined the Congress party. As a Congressman, Chandregowda had served as a Minister in late D. Devaraj Urs ministry and also under S.M. Krishna besides holding the post of Speaker.
He once served as a Rajya Sabha member and in the changed political situation, Chandregowda switched loyalties to Bharatiya Janata Party and was once elected to Lok Sabha from Bengaluru North Lok Sabha seat in 2009 on BJP ticket.
Condolences poured in for Chandregowda and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that Chandregowda was in politics for a long time and termed his death a loss for the State.
In his condolence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters and on Chandregowda he said he had deep understanding of our Constitution.
