N. Dharam Singh, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Thursday morning after a heart attack. He was 80.

Mr. Singh was the 17th Chief Minister. He headed the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government from May 2004 to February 2006.

Born on December 25, 1936 at Nelogi village of Jewargi taluk in Kalaburagi district, Mr. Singh represented the Karnataka Legislative Assembly seven times without a defeat and was a member of the Lok Sabha from the Bidar constituency once (2009).

Mr. Singh, a seasoned politician, was known for his gentle demeanour and knew each voter by name in his constituency - Jewargi, which he nurtured from 1978 to 2008. Though he belonged to a small community, he won the loyalty of voters going beyond caste affiliations.

He was minister under various Chief Minsters – Devaraj Urs, R. Gundu Rao, S. Bangarappa, M. Veerappa Moily and S.M. Krishna. He handled many portfolios such as Home, Excise, Social Welfare, Urban Development, Public Works, and Revenue. He also served as the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

Owing to the hung Assembly after the 2004 elections, the Congress joined hands with the JD(S) headed by former Prime Minster H.D. Deve Gowda and formed the coalition government. Mr. Singh was the unanimous choice of both parties to head the government. For 20 months, he led the coalition government, which saw many ups and downs.

Later, the Dharam Singh government collapsed following the withdrawal of support by the JD(S), which joined hands with the BJP and formed another coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy that lasted for 20 months.

The State government, post noon, declared a holiday for all schools and government offices. Government offices and schools in Kalaburgi and Bidar districts will remain closed on Friday as well.