Bangalore: Former Karnataka minister H N Nanjegowda passed away here today in a private hospital after a brief illness, family sources said.
Nanjegowda, 76,is survived by wife and a son.
Nanjegowda, a two-term Lok Sabha member from Hassan parliamentary constituency and three time MLA had served as Irrigation Minister in the late D Devaraj Urs ministry.
Acclaimed as an "irrigation expert", Nanjegowda commanded a vast knowledge about irrigation aspects in the state and all governments had sought his advice on matters including inter-state river disputes, Cauvery and Krishna.
Nanjegowda who was in Congress, fell out with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi during 1984,quit the party and joined Janata Dal (Secular).
Later he left JDS and joined BJP on whose ticket he successfully contested Basavanagudi assembly seat in 1994.
He had joined BSP recently.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, condoling the death of Nanjegowda, described him as a a leader who strived for welfare of farmers.
"In the death of Nanjegowda, the state has suffered an irreparable loss", Yeddyurappa said.
Former chief minister N Dharam Singh, former Deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC President R V Deshpande, Working president D K Shivakumar and Kananda Chaluvali leader Vatal Nagaraj expressed grief over the death.
