Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, 10 May expressed grief over the passing of Karnataka Minister D. Sudhakar, calling him a "torchbearer of Congress ideology" and recalling his lifelong service to the poor of Chitradurga and Karnataka. Sudhakar, who served as the state's Minister for Planning and Statistics, passed away in the early hours of Sunday at KIMS Hospital in Bengaluru.

How Sudhakar Passed Away

D. Sudhakar had initially been admitted to Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru for a knee surgery. He subsequently developed a lung infection, which turned serious, and was shifted to KIMS Hospital where he had been undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for the past month. Hospital authorities confirmed his death at 3.15 a.m. on Sunday. Preparations for a lung transplantation had reportedly been underway, but he passed away before the procedure could be carried out. He is survived by his wife Harshini, son Suhas, and daughter Spoorthi.

Rahul Gandhi's Tribute on X

In a post on X, Gandhi wrote: "Deeply saddened by the passing of senior Congress leader and Karnataka Minister, D. Sudhakar ji. A torchbearer of Congress ideology, his life was spent in the service of the poor of Chitradurga and Karnataka. My condolences to his family and supporters." The tribute underscored Sudhakar's decades-long grassroots connect, particularly his work during droughts in the Chitradurga district, where he personally cultivated fodder around lakes in Hiriyur and distributed it to farmers' cattle — an act of public service still remembered locally.

A Four-Decade Political Journey

Born on 28 March 1961 in Challakere, D. Sudhakar was the third son of businessman Dasharathayya and Kanchanmala, and belonged to the Jain community. After completing a B.Com degree, he entered politics and was first elected as an MLA from the Challakere Assembly constituency in 2004. When Challakere became a reserved constituency, he shifted to Hiriyur in 2008 and won as an independent candidate, going on to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and serving as Minister for Social Welfare in the B. S. Yediyurappa cabinet. He later held the Muzrai Department portfolio after the Social Welfare portfolio was reassigned following the Beggars' Colony scam. He returned to the Indian National Congress (Congress), winning the Hiriyur seat in 2013, losing to Poornima Srinivas in 2018, and reclaiming it against Srinivas in 2023. A four-time MLA, he also served as President of the Chitradurga DCC Bank.

Leaders Across Party Lines Pay Condolences

Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar called Sudhakar a "close associate" who had "rendered commendable public service in an effective manner", adding: "I pray that God grants eternal peace to the soul of D. Sudhakar and gives strength to his family to bear this loss. Om Shanti." Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka also expressed condolences, saying he prayed that "the Almighty grants eternal peace to his soul and gives strength to his family members to bear the sorrow of this irreparable loss." The cross-party tributes reflect Sudhakar's standing as a figure who transcended factional boundaries during a long and varied political career.

What Happens Next

The Karnataka government is expected to announce official mourning and funeral arrangements. The vacancy in the Hiriyur constituency and the Planning and Statistics portfolio will need to be addressed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet in the coming days.