india

Updated: Mar 22, 2019 21:32 IST

Karnataka minister CS Shivalli passed away in Hubballi on Friday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.

Shivalli (58), a close associate of former chief minister Siddaramaiah, was elected from the Kundgol assembly seat in Dharwad district last year. He was made minister for the municipal administration in December last year, when the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance went in for an expansion. A three-time MLA, Shivalli joined the Congress before the 2008 assembly elections having contested as an Independent candidate.

Karnataka Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao expressed shock at the sudden passing of the minister. “Shocked to hear the sudden demise of our minister Sri CS Shivalli. A truly grassroots, son of the soil poltician who served the people with great simplicity and commitment. A great loss for the Congress and for the Dharwad region,” he tweeted.

Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy also conveyed his condolences. “The death of minister CS Shivalli has caused me great pain. I am unable to believe that the person who was overseeing the rescue works in Dharwad over the past three days is no more,” he tweeted.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah said in a tweet that he was “pained by the death of his friend of long-standing. He was a straight-forward and humble person”.