BJP bids final goodbye to Ananth Kumar

Bengaluru: Hundreds of BJP leaders and cadres on Tuesday paid their last respects to the mortal remains of Union Minister Ananth Kumar, who suddenly passed away here a day before, an official said.

The 59-year-old, who was ailing from cancer, died on Monday at a private hospital here due to multiple organ failure.

"Kumar's body was brought to the party office in Malleshwaram from his residence at Basavangudi on a flower-bedecked military around 9 a.m.," party spokesman S. Shantaram told IANS.

The cortege carrying the glass casket was draped in the national flag.

It was escorted by the city police on the 10km ride, clearing traffic during the peak hour, as the procession was already running behind schedule.

The casket was kept in the main hall of the party office as state unit chief B.S. Yeddurappa, K.S. Eshwarappa, R. Ashok, Union Ministers D.V. Sadananda Gowda and Ramesh Jigjinagi, party's members of Parliament and the state legislature among others gathered to pay their final floral tributes.

Many of the cadres arrived across the state by overnight trains, buses and private vehicles, Shantaram said.

"The body will be taken to the National College grounds at Basavangudi in the city's southern suburb by 11 a.m., and kept in state till afternoon," the official added.

A state funeral would be held later in the day with full military honours and 21-gun salute before the last rites are conducted in accordance with the Hindu rites at the Chamarajpet crematorium here.

Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and party's national president Amit Shah were expected to attend the last rites.