Former PM H.D. Deve Gowda’s Wife Chennamma Dies at 88

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, July 19, 2026: Chennamma Deve Gowda, wife of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, passed away on Saturday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Bengaluru. She was in her late 80s.

She had been admitted to Manipal Hospital on Old Airport Road on Wednesday night and was undergoing treatment for a respiratory ailment. In a statement, the hospital said she suffered a massive cardiac arrest at around 4 pm despite showing signs of recovery.

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, and other family members were present at the hospital at the time of her demise.

Married to Deve Gowda in 1954, Chennamma is survived by four sons and two daughters, including Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Holenarasipur MLA H.D. Revanna.

A survivor of an acid attack in 2001, allegedly linked to a family dispute, Chennamma maintained a low public profile throughout her life despite her family’s prominent political stature. H.D. Deve Gowda frequently acknowledged her sacrifices and steadfast support, while Kumaraswamy often credited his mother’s values for shaping his political journey.