D Sudhakar Passes Away At 66; ‘Voice Of Hiriyur’ Karnataka Congress Leader Battled Prolonged Illness

D Sudhakar, a prominent Karnataka Congress leader and MLA representing Hiriyur, passed away at the age of 66 after battling a prolonged illness. He was undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital in Bengaluru but succumbed despite medical efforts. Sudhakar, known as the 'Voice of Hiriyur,' was serving as the district in-charge minister for Chitradurga and held the Planning and Statistics portfolio in the state government. Born on March 28, 1961, in Challakere, Sudhakar began his political career in 2004 by winning the Challakere Assembly seat. After shifting to Hiriyur in 2008, he won as an independent candidate and later joined the Congress, holding ministerial roles such as Social Welfare and Muzrai during the BJP-led government. His MLA position was briefly disqualified in 2011 but restored through legal intervention. Sudhakar returned to Congress in 2013, winning the Hiriyur seat before losing in 2018 to Poornima Srinivas. He made a political comeback in 2023 by defeating Srinivas again. His career spanned independent politics, BJP support, and a long association with Congress, including a close mentorship with Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar. Before politics, Sudhakar ran a liquor business with his father and later expanded into real estate and oil mills. He also founded the Swami Vivekananda Educational Institution in Challakere, contributing to local education. His family includes wife Harshini, son Suhas, and daughter Spoorthi. Sudhakar’s death marks the end of a decades-long political journey marked by grassroots leadership, business ventures, and educational initiatives in Karnataka.