Bangalore: The mortal remains of former Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde were consigned to the flames at his farm house on the outskirts of Bangalore with full State honours this afternoon (Jan 13, 2004).

As a huge gathering bid a tearful farewell to one of the most charismatic national political leaders, Hegde's son Bharat Hegde performed the last rites and lit the funeral pyre.

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, former Prime Ministers Chandrashekhar and H D Devegowda, Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar were present to pay their last respects.

The body of Hegde was taken in a procession from his residence in Sadashivanagar to the farm house after hundreds of mourners filed past it in the morning to pay their homage.

Seventy-seven year old Hegde, ailing for nearly a year, died at his residence in Bangalore yesterday, marking the exit of one of the most adored leaders of Karnataka who left a mark of his own in national politics during his five-decade old political career.