Karnataka Planning and Statistics Minister and senior Congress leader D Sudhakar, whose political career spanned two decades before he emerged as an influential figure in the Siddaramaiah government, died in Bengaluru on Sunday after suffering severe lung complications following a surgery, hospital authorities said. He was 66 years old.
Sudhakar, who was also the minister in charge of Chitradurga district, was undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Electronic City for about a month.
Dr. R. said: Chinnadurai, Medical Director, KIMS, said, “…Minister Dr. Sudhakar, 66, was pronounced dead at around 3.15 am on May 10 at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Electronic City.”
The minister had initially undergone knee surgery at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru. According to doctors, complications developed after the operation when he developed a serious lung infection. As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to KIMS on April 20 while undergoing extracorporeal life support for advanced treatment.
Earlier, Dr Pavan Yadav MV, Clinical Director and Senior Consultant Interventional Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at KIMS, noted, “On April 20, around 8 pm, he was transferred from Manipal Hospital to ECLS (extracorporeal life support) for more advanced care here and is currently on full life support to help the functions of his vital organs.”
He added: “A specialized, multidisciplinary team of expert doctors is monitoring his condition around the clock. Currently, his condition is stable on life support, and if his lungs do not show significant improvement, a lung transplant may be considered for him.”
Sudhakar represented Hiriyur Assembly constituency and remained an influential political figure in central Karnataka. He was also seen as politically close to Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar, whom he considered his mentor.
Sudhakar was born on March 28, 1961 in Challakeri, the son of businessman Dasharathaya and Kanchanmala. After completing his Bachelor of Commerce degree, he entered politics and gradually built his influence through electoral politics and cooperative institutions in Chitradurga district.
He first entered the Karnataka Assembly in 2004 from Challakere constituency. After reserving the seat due to constituency reorganization, he moved to neighboring Herer and contested the 2008 elections as an independent candidate, winning the seat.
During that period, Sudhakar supported the BJP government led by BS Yediyurappa and joined the Cabinet as Social Welfare Minister. His tenure was later subject to controversy after allegations surfaced linked to the beggar colony scam. After that, the social welfare portfolio was taken away from him, and he was later appointed to the Mazrai administration.
Sudhakar later joined the Congress Party and won from Hiriyur in the 2013 Assembly elections. Although he lost the constituency to Poornima Srinivas in 2018, he regained the seat in the 2023 elections as a Congress candidate.
In the drought-prone Chitradurga district, he is reported to have personally arranged fodder cultivation near Hiriyur lakes and distributed it to livestock owned by farmers affected by drought conditions.
News of his death prompted condolences from political leaders of various party affiliations.
Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar described Sudhakar as a close partner and said he was deeply saddened by the loss. “I am deeply saddened by the demise of our Cabinet colleague and close associate, Dr. Sudhakar, who was undergoing treatment for the disease and passed away today,” Shivakumar said, adding that Sudhakar “rendered praiseworthy public service in an efficient manner.”
“It is painful that Sudhakar leaves behind his family members, relatives and a large number of supporters today. I pray that God grant eternal peace to D Sudhakar’s soul and give strength to his family to bear this loss. Om Shanti,” he said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he recently visited Sudhakar in hospital and remained optimistic about his recovery. “I recently visited him in the hospital and checked with the doctors. I was confident at that time that he would recover… Sudhakar was a person of immense care and commitment to public service. Such individuals should have stayed among the people for a longer period,” Siddaramaiah said.
Opposition Leader R. Ashoka condolences on the death of the minister. “My condolences on the demise of Dr. Sudhakar, Minister of Planning and Statistics Department and Minister in Charge of Chitradurga District. I pray to God to grant eternal peace to his soul and give strength to his family members to bear the grief of this irreparable loss,” Ashoka said.
Sudhakar is survived by his wife Harshini, son Suhas and daughter Spoorthi.
