H.S. Prakash, Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former MLA, passed away in a hospital in Bengaluru on Tuesday. He was 67.
The four-time MLA was undergoing treatment for a couple of weeks. According to the doctors who treated him in Bengaluru, he died of multiple-organ failure.
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Mr. Prakash is survived by his wife, B. Lalithamani, and three children, including H.P. Swaroop, Hassan Zilla Panchayat member. Mr. Prakash’s younger brother H.S. Anil Kumar is a former president of the Hassan City Municipal Council (CMC).
Mr. Prakash began his political career as a member of the Hassan CMC in the 1980s. He served as president of the CMC between 1985 and 87.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1994. He lost the next elections, but succeeded in getting elected to the Assembly in 2004. Since 2004, he represented the Hassan constituency for three consecutive terms. In the elections held in May this year, he was defeated by BJP candidate Preetham Gowda. All through his political career, Mr. Prakash was loyal to Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda. He had health problems during his fourth term as an MLA. However, he recovered and contested in 2018.
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Mr. Gowda and his wife, Chennamma, paid their last respects to the JD(S) leader in Bengaluru. In his condolence message, Mr. Gowda said Mr. Prakash had worked with a commitment for the development of the constituency. In his death, the party had lost a loyal and honest leader, he said.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will visit Hassan on Wednesday to pay his respects to the former MLA. In his message, Mr. Kumaraswamy said Mr. Prakash was popular because of his simplicity and honesty.
Last rites today
Mr. Prakash’s body was kept on the Deputy Commissioner’s office premises here for public viewing. Hundreds of people paid their last respects. The last rites will be performed on Wednesday afternoon at K. Aladahalli near here.