Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 26: Former state assembly speaker and veteran Congress leader, M V Venkatappa (81), passed away at a private hospital here on Tuesday June 25 morning. Venkatappa, who had fallen critically ill, was being treated at the hospital. He suffered multiple organs failure and failed to respond to treatments.

Venkatappa was the only person to have discharged responsibilities as the speaker of the state assembly and chairman of the legislative council in the state. He had been elected from Mulbagil constituency twice to the assembly, while he also was the member of the upper house for two terms. He had worked as a member of Land Reforms Committee during the period of the Late Devaraj Urs between 1972 and 1974.

Venkatappa is survived by wife, well-known social worker, Subhadra Venktappa, son, IIM-B professor and AICC spokesperson, Prof  Rajiv Gowda, and another son, Dr Siddarth, who is a doctor settled in USA.

Venkatappa’s body was kept at his residence till afternoon on Tuesday, before being taken to Modakapalli in Mulbagil taluk, which happens tobe his native place, for conducting funeral rites.

KPCC president, Dr G Parameshwar, and other leaders visited the residence of Venkatappa and paid their last respects. Scores of dignitaries including former state chief minister, Yeddyurappa, BJP state president, Prahlad Joshi, Jagadish Shettar, P G R Sindhia, ministers, R V Deshpande and Krishna Byre Gowda, and others have grieved the stalwart’s death.