Bangalore: Former Minister D T Jayakumar (62) Passes Away 

Bangalore, Sept 19 (SOM)- Former Minister D.T. Jayakumar (62) passed away here this morning due to renal failure.

He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital where he breathed his last. He leaves behind his wife and a son.

The body will be taken to his native village Devarahalli in Chennapatna taluk at 3 pm today where it will be kept for public darshan. As per his last wish, DTJ's body will be donated to JSS Medical College in Mysore tomorrow.

Jayakumar, who began his career as a Police Sub-Inspector at Maddur, served as Sub-Inspector in Nanjangud Rural Police Station from 1974 to 1976.

He plunged into politics joining Congress (U) led by late Chief Minister Devaraj Urs and first contested the Assembly elections from Nanjangud in 1978.

The political career of Jayakumar took a new turn when he was elected to Assembly as Janata Party candidate in 1985 from Nanjangud defeating the Congress stalwart Hejjige Linganna.

Jayakumar was the Horticulture Minister in Hegde Government.

He was elected to Assembly from the same constituency in 1994 and 2004. He, however, was defeated last year in Chamundeswari constituency when he contested on BSP ticket as JD(S) denied him ticket.

In the Kumaraswamy Government also, Jayakumar was Housing and Tourism Minister.

Jayakumar had recently joined the BJP.