BANGALORE: Former sericulture minister and three-time MLA from Channapatna M Varade Gowda, 68, died in the early hours of Saturday.
He was undergoing dialysis for kidney failure and breathed his last in his residence in Channapatna.
He is survived by three sons, one daughter and his wife.
A prominent figure in the erstwhile Janata Pariwar since the 1980s, Varade Gowda won from Channapatna constituency thrice and was considered its pillar.
He was instrumental in organising the 90-km padayatra by HD Deve Gowda from Vittalenahalli in Channapatna taluk to Bangalore to protest against the killing of two farmers in police firing in 2001.
Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, JD(S) leaders Puttanna, H C Balakrishna and thousands of his supporters and admirers thronged his residence to pay their homage and last respects.