BENGALURU: Minister for Co-operation and Sugar HS Mahadeva Prasad, 58, died of a heart attack at a private resort in Koppa, Chikkamagaluru district, on Tuesday morning. The state government has declared one-day holiday for schools and offices (Tuesday) and a three-day mourning as a mark of respect.
The five-time MLA from Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district was a close associate of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The district minister had arrived in Koppa to attend a programme. Prasad, who had retired for the night at the resort, was found dead when his personal aides went to check when he did not come out of his room.
Prasad entered the state assembly in 1994 and had since been elected successively in 1999, 2004, 2008 and 2013. The soft-spoken Prasad was inducted into the coalition government of Dharam Singh as minister for Food and Civil Supplies in 2004 and later, he was made minister for Kannada and Culture in the HD Kumaraswamy government. Later, he quit JD(S) and joined Congress along with Siddaramaiah in 2007.
Born on August 5, 1958 Prasad was a post-graduate in Political Science and began his public life by setting up Sangama Trust in 1980s and was actively engaged in organising mass marriages, health camps and job fairs in Gundlupet. He is survived by his wife Dr MC Mohana Kumari and son Ganesh Prasad.
The low-profile Prasad also had his share of controversies, involving concealing property details in his affidavit while his son was accused of carrying out illegal granite quarrying in Chamarajnagar. The final rites with state honours would be held on Wednesday.