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He helped lotus bloom in K’taka

NEW DELHI:The outpouring of condolences by leaders across the political spectrum and people for Ananth Kumar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, reflects the genuine affection he gathered during his lifetime — 59 years in all.

He helped lotus bloom in K’taka

Ananth Kumar 1959-2018



Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 12

The outpouring of condolences by leaders across the political spectrum and people for Ananth Kumar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, reflects the genuine affection he gathered during his lifetime — 59 years in all.

Kumar, who passed away this morning in Bengaluru, losing a battle against cancer, was among the BJP leaders with a rare distinction of having an inside seat in the power circle of both saffron Prime Ministers, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi.

As someone who was seen actively managing the government affairs in Parliament till the last monsoon session, his passing away came as a rude shock for most.

Among the top saffron leaders credited with the blooming of lotus in Karnataka, Kumar had been representing Bengaluru (South) since 1996. He headed several important ministries and committees during his six terms in Parliament since then. His last assignment was as Parliamentary Affairs Minister, which he managed with élan, trouble-shooting and liaising on behalf of the government with rival parties on floor management

It was during his tenure that the Modi government undertook some unprecedented steps, like the midnight launch of its flagship goods and services tax (GST), and also faced several tough challenges, including a no-confidence motion.

Kumar was also quite popular among journalists, who made a beeline for his room on evenings when Parliament was in session, to pick his brain on government strategies.

A true blue politician, he did not divulge much, except what he wanted to. But he never offended anyone. It was always with a smile and courtesy that he treated everyone, even his rivals.

A law and arts graduate, Kumar began his political career as a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)—RSS student wing. He also went to jail during the Emergency.

At 39, he became the youngest minister in the Vajpayee cabinet and went on to handle several important ministries, including Civil Aviation, Tourism, Sports, Urban Development and later the tricky Parliamentary Affairs.

When he took over as the Union minister for the first time, journalists asked him how he would manage the important responsibility at such a young age. “Kumar replied smilingly that he would try to replicate the effort the BJP used to build the party in uncharted Karnataka. There is always a first time for everything,” says a senior journalist, quoting him.

Though he held several important positions in the BJP organisation and the Union Government, one of his wishes was to become the Chief Minister of the state he helped the party grow and form its first government. The wish remained unfulfilled which is why a lot is said about his “not-so-good relationship” with BS Yeddyurappa, the first saffron Chief Minister of the southern state.

Born in Bengaluru in 1959 to railway official HN Narayan Sastry and Girija N Sastry, Kumar graduated from the KS Arts College and studied law from the JSS Law College, Hubli. Kumar passed away at a time when the BJP is passing through a tough phase in Karnataka. Not just his party colleagues, politicians from across the party lines have expressed grief over his death.

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