Karnataka Minister D. Sudhakar Passes Away at 66

Mangalore Today News Network

Chitradurga, May 10, 2026: Karnataka Minister and four-time MLA D. Sudhakar passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru in the early hours of Sunday. He was 66.

Sudhakar had been undergoing treatment for a lung infection at a private hospital in Bengaluru for the past one month.

He was first elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Challakere constituency on a Congress ticket in 2004. Following the delimitation process, Challakere constituency was reserved for Scheduled Tribes, after which he shifted to Hiriyur constituency. Denied a Congress ticket in 2008, he contested as an independent candidate and emerged victorious.

Later, he extended support to the B.S. Yediyurappa-led government and served as Minister for Social Welfare. He was re-elected on a Congress ticket in the 2013 Assembly elections.

Sudhakar was defeated by BJP candidate Poornima Srinivas in the 2018 Assembly polls. However, he returned to the Assembly in 2023 from the Congress party and was serving as Minister for Statistics and Planning.

Family sources said the mortal remains of Sudhakar, who was also the district in-charge minister, will be taken from KIMS Hospital in Bengaluru to Hiriyur at 9 am on Sunday and are expected to reach around 2 pm.

Arrangements have been made for public viewing at Nehru Maidan in Hiriyur till 5 pm. Later, the mortal remains will be taken to Challakere, where they will be kept for public viewing at the Taluk Stadium till 3 pm on May 11.

The last rites will be performed at 4 pm on May 11 as per Jain traditions, family sources added.