Mandya: Former MLA Dr. HD Chowdaiah passes away at 94
Mandya: Former Karnataka MLA from Keragodu in Mandya district, Dr. HD Chowdaiah passed away on late Tuesday night due to age-related health issues.
The four-time MLA and one-time MLC is survived by two sons, three daughters, and a legion of friends and relatives.
Dr. Chowdaiah of Holalu village in Keragodu Taluk is hailed for his contributions in the field of Cooperation, Education, Rural Development, and Sports.
He began serving as the Taluk Board President in 1960 and served on the board till 1968, before becoming the president of the district co-operative bank. He was been elected from the Janata party in 1978 for the Vidhana Sabha election. He contested against his political teacher K. V . Shankergowda on behalf of the Congress party and won the elections in 1983. He became an MLA once again contesting from the Congress party in 1985. He contested as an independent candidate and secured victory during the elections in 1999. Later, he was elected as a member of the Vidhana Parishad from the Congress party in 1991. The Keragodu constituency later merged with the Mandya constituency in 2008.
Arrangements have been made in Holalu village for public viewing of the late leader’s mortal remains. The sources in the family have revealed that the final rites of the deceased will be conducted on Wednesday evening.
Siddaramaiah expresses condolence: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed condolences on the death of Dr. Chowdaiah.
Mandya’s senior statesman Dr. H. D. Chowdaiah’s passing is an extremely sad development. The 94-year-old elder, former MLA, and people’s statesman and politician Dr. Chowdaiah had been experiencing old-age-related issues. He was extremely pained after the demise of his wife. That pain aided in the deterioration of his health. He had let down my expectations of seeing him become a centenarian and left us. I pray to God that he grants the family and friends of the deceased strength to bear the loss of his death.
As a former President of the PES Trust, a brave senior co-operative, Chowdaiah was the frontline leader during the Cauvery struggles. He has served as Keragode constituency MLA four times, twice as the Parishad member, and rendered a prolonged service of 31 years as the president of the prestigious PET in Mandya. Chowdaiah was the image of Mandya’s self-respecting politician. With his demise, I have lost a close aid and well-wisher, a teary Siddaramaiah expressed.
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Bengal: Murder of Suvendu aide sparks political row; BJP, TMC trade barbs
Kolkata (PTI): The murder of a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari triggered political confrontation in West Bengal on Thursday, with the saffron camp accusing the TMC of fostering "lawlessness" and the Mamata Banerjee-led party rejecting the charge.
In a shocking development within 48 hours of the assembly poll verdict, Chandranath Rath, Adhikari's executive assistant, was shot dead in a brazen attack at Madhyamgram on Wednesday night, escalating tension in the area.
According to preliminary information, motorcycle-borne assailants intercepted Rath's vehicle near Doltala in Madhyamgram around 10.30 pm, forced it to stop and opened fire at point-blank range before fleeing.
Senior BJP leaders on Thursday alleged that the killing reflected the "complete collapse" of law and order in the state under the rule of the TMC government, which was "thrown out of power" in the assembly polls.
"A person closely associated with the leader of the opposition was targeted in a planned manner. This shows how law and order have deteriorated under the Mamata Banerjee government, which the people of Bengal have thrown out of power," a BJP leader said.
Adhikari on Thursday described the gunning down of his close aide as a "cold-blooded murder" and alleged that the killers had carried out a recce before executing the attack in North 24 Parganas district.
The Trinamool Congress dismissed the allegations and accused the BJP of attempting to politicise the incident before the investigation had progressed.
"The TMC has nothing to do with this unfortunate incident. The police are investigating the case professionally. The BJP should refrain from making baseless accusations. We are the ones who demanded a CBI probe of the killing," a senior Trinamool leader said.
The Congress demanded a transparent probe and criticised both the BJP and the TMC for "turning every tragedy into a political battle".
"The focus should remain on arresting the killers and ensuring justice, not on political point-scoring," a state Congress leader said.
The CPI(M) also condemned the killing and expressed concern over the deteriorating political atmosphere in the state.
"Violence and fear have increasingly become part of Bengal's political culture under the TMC rule. The administration must act firmly and impartially. We condemn the killing and demand strict action against those involved in the crime," a senior CPI(M) leader said.
