Former Karnataka Minister Shivanand Koujalagi Dies at 87
Three-time Bailhongal MLA and former Belagavi MP also headed the KLE Society; leaders recall his contributions to education and public service.
GG News Bureau
Belagavi, 30th Oct: Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka minister Shivanand Koujalagi died at his hometown Bailhongal in Belagavi district on Friday. He was 87 and had been suffering from age-related ailments.
Koujalagi was a three-time MLA from Bailhongal and represented the Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency once. He was the father of Congress MLA Mahantesh Koujalagi and carried forward the political legacy of his father, former MP Hemmand Koujalagi.
He served as a minister in the Karnataka government led by H D Deve Gowda and also chaired the Karnataka Lingayat Education (KLE) Society, one of the state’s prominent educational institutions.
Leaders pay tribute
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expressed grief over Koujalagi’s demise, recalling his contributions to public life, particularly in education, cooperation and social service.
In a post on X, Shivakumar said his death was an irreplaceable loss to his family and to people in political and social circles who knew him closely. He also extended condolences to the bereaved family.
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah described Koujalagi as a socially committed leader who remained connected with people even after stepping away from electoral politics.
Siddaramaiah said that although Koujalagi had stayed away from electoral politics for the past few years, he continued to share the joys and sorrows of people who had placed their trust in him.
He added that Koujalagi’s contributions as a public representative would remain etched in public memory and conveyed his condolences to Mahantesh Koujalagi and other family members.
