Daijiworld Media Network - Chikkamagaluru

Chikkamagaluru, Jan 3: State minister for co-operation and sugar H S Mahadeva Prasad passed away here on Tuesday January 3 due to cardiac arrest. He was 59.

Sources said that he had a cardiac arrest somewhere between 5.45 and 6 am. He used to go on a walk every morning at 6 am, but on Wednesday, he did not emerge from his room. He was staying in a resort here.

Local Congress leaders came to the resort to meet him and waited for about two hours. His death came to light at around 9.45 am when the district Congress president Vijaykumar along with some others went to his room and found him lying on the bed lifeless and cold. The door was opened with a spare key after repeated knocks failed to elicit a response.

Information about his death was conveyed to the chief minister, DCP, the DC and other officials immediately. His family has also been informed.

He had been to dinner to a friend's house on Monday January 2. His mortal remains will be taken to his village Halahalli where the last rites will be held, sources said.

He was in Koppa to attend an official function, official sources said.

He had undergone bypass surgery few years ago.

Halahalli Shreekantha Shetti Mahadeva Prasad was born on August 5, 1958 in Gundlupet. An active Congressman and five-term member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly representing Gundlupet, Prasad was also the in-charge minister of Chamarajanagar district.

Prasad had previously been minister of food and civil supplies and consumer affairs, and Kannada and culture.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, with whom Prasad shared a close association, expressed his deepest condolences on the untimely demise of his cabinet colleague.

Calling Prasad's death as unexpected and shocking, Siddaramaiah said he was one among his closest.

"It is a huge personal loss to me and to Congress party. He was an able administrator and a clean politician. I have lost a close friend and a wonderful colleague," he said.

State government has declared one-day government holiday today and announced three days state mourning.