Veteran Congress leader and MLA of Deodurg constituency in Raichur district, Karnataka, A Venkatesh Naik (79) died in a rail accident near Penugonda in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, at about 2.30 am on Monday.
The accident occurred when Bangalore-Nanded Express (Train No: 16594) in which Mr. Naik was travelling was rammed by a granite laden truck at a level crossing near Madakashira village between Rangepalli and Penugonda Stations in Anantapur district on Dharmavaram Section of Bengaluru division of South Western Railway, leading to the derailment of four coaches and killing six people, including Mr. Naik. He is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.
Born on June 6, 1936, Mr. Naik entered politics through the Congress party in 1968 through local body elections. He was gram panchayat president twice, APMC director and Zilla Parishat member before entering national politics in 1991 Lok Sabha polls. He was elected to Lok Sabha four times from Raichur constituency. He had lost the constituency to Raja Rangappa Naik of Janata Dal in 1996 Lok Sabha polls. He had served Devadurga taluk Congress Committee president for two terms and Raichur District Congress Committee for one term.
In a bitter electoral battle in 2013 Assembly polls, Mr. Naik defeated his grandson K. Shivanagowda Naik who contested from Bharatiya Janata Party at Deodurg constituency by a margin of 3700 votes. He had also played an instrumental role in earning a thin-margin victory for his son and Congress candidate B.V. Naik against his grandson in 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Raichur constituency.
He had lost Raichur Lok Sabha constituency to Raja Rangappa Naik of Janata Dal in 1996 polls. He was denied Congress ticket in 2009 Lok Sabha polls and the Congress candidate Raja Venkatappa Naik was defeated by BJP candidate Sanna Pakkirappa in the election.
Mr. Venkatesh Naik was also defeated by his grandson and Janata Dal (Secular) candidate Mr. K. Shivanagowda Naik in Deodurg constituency in 2008 assembly elections.
“Venkatesh Naik was a literary enthusiast. He had studied Jaimini Bharata, a version of Hindu epic Mahabharata authored by noted Kannada poet of 16th century, Lakshmisa. He was fond of planting saplings and nurturing them. He spoke less and did more,” Mr. Bheemanagowda Itagi, a long-time associate of Mr. Naik told The Hindu .
