Karnataka Congress leader and former MLA R V Devraj died due to a cardiac arrest in Mysuru Monday night, two days before his 68th birthday.
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According to the family members, Devraj visited Mysuru Monday, and went to Chamundi Hills temple. He stayed at a private hotel in the city.
His childhood friend, Parashuram, said he was with the former MLA till 8.30 pm. Parashuram said he received a phone call from his personal assistant at around 9 pm, saying Devraj had been rushed to Apollo Hospital after he collapsed. Later, he was shifted to Jayadeva Hospital, where doctors declared him “brought dead”.
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“He wanted to visit Himavad Gopalaswamy Hills, which is 80 km from Mysuru, on Tuesday morning. We wanted to give him a surprise birthday party, and had made preparations. We had installed banners and flexes wishing him on his birthday in the constituency. But he left us too early,” he added.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expressed their condolences.
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“He had visited Mysuru ahead of his birthday. He was an asset to Congress, and it is a loss for the party,” said Siddaramaiah.
“He had given up the constituency when SM Krishna decided to contest from Chamarajpet in 2004. He met me three days ago and was a leader of the backward class. It is a loss for the party,” Shivakumar said.
Devraj was a three-time Congress MLA from Chamrajpet and Chickpet Assembly segments, and also served as the chairman of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). He was also appointed as the chairman of the Karnataka Slum Development Board in 2016 during Siddaramaiah’s first term as Chief Minister.