India
oi-Ashish Rana
Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka minister Shivanand Koujalagi passed away at the age of 87 on Friday. He died at his hometown, Bailhongal, in Belagavi district, due to age-related health issues.
Senior Congress leader Shivanand Koujalagi, a three-time MLA from Bailhongal, ex-Karnataka minister, and former Belagavi MP, died aged 87 on Friday in Belagavi district, noted for his contributions to education and public life.
Three-Time MLA And Former Belagavi MP
Koujalagi was the father of Congress MLA Mahantesh Koujalagi. He was elected as an MLA from Bailhongal three times and also represented the Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency as an MP once.
He continued the political legacy of his father, late former MP Hemmand Koujalagi. He also served as a minister in the Karnataka government led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.
Apart from his political career, Koujalagi also served as the chairman of the Karnataka Lingayat Education (KLE) Society, one of the well-known educational organisations in the state.
DK Shivakumar Pays Tribute To Senior Congress Leader
Paying tribute, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said Koujalagi had made significant contributions to public life, particularly in education, cooperation and social service.
“His demise is an irreplaceable loss not only to his family but also to those in the political and social spheres who knew him closely,” Shivakumar said in a post on X, extending condolences to the bereaved family.
ಬೈಲಹೊಂಗಲ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್‌ ಶಾಸಕ ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾಂತೇಶ ಕೌಜಲಗಿ ಅವರ ತಂದೆ, ಹಿರಿಯ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಮುತ್ಸದ್ದಿ, ಮಾಜಿ ಸಚಿವರು ಹಾಗೂ ಕೆಎಲ್‌ಇ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾಗಿ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ್ದ ಶ್ರೀ ಶಿವಾನಂದ ಕೌಜಲಗಿ ಅವರ ನಿಧನದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ತಿಳಿದು ತೀವ್ರ ದುಃಖವಾಗಿದೆ.ಬೈಲಹೊಂಗಲ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಿಂದ ಮೂರು ಬಾರಿ ಶಾಸಕರಾಗಿ, ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ ಲೋಕಸಭಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಿಂದ ಸಂಸದರಾಗಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದ ಅವರು, ಸಚಿವರಾಗಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಅಪಾರ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ, ಸಹಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾಜ ಸೇವೆಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮದೇ ಆದ ಛಾಪು ಮೂಡಿಸಿದ್ದ ಅವರು, ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಜೀವನಕ್ಕೆ ತಮ್ಮದೇ ಆದ ಕೊಡುಗೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.ಶ್ರೀಯುತರ ಅಗಲಿಕೆ ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬಕ್ಕೆ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲದೆ, ಅವರನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಿರದಿಂದ ಬಲ್ಲ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ವಲಯದವರಿಗೂ ತುಂಬಲಾರದ ನಷ್ಟವಾಗಿದೆ. ಅವರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಚಿರಶಾಂತಿ ದೊರೆಯಲಿ. ಕೌಜಲಗಿ ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಸದಸ್ಯರು, ಬಂಧುಗಳು, ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಹಿತೈಷಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಈ ದುಃಖವನ್ನು ಭರಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಭಗವಂತ ನೀಡಲಿ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.ಓಂ ಶಾಂತಿ.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) October 30, 2026
Siddaramaiah Remembers His Social Contributions
In his condolence message, former chief minister Siddaramaiah described Koujalagi as a socially committed leader who remained connected with people even after stepping away from electoral politics.
“Even though Shivanand Koujalagi had stayed away from electoral politics for the past few years, he was a socially committed individual who continued to respond to the joys and sorrows of the people who trusted him,” Siddaramaiah said.
He added that Koujalagi’s contributions as a people’s representative would remain etched in public memory and conveyed his condolences to Koujalagi’s son Mahantesh Koujalagi and other family members.
