Former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa Cremated In Sorab With Full State Honours

Sorab(Shimoga) - 28 Dec 2011: It was a sea of humanity in the small Sorab town, 30 km from Shimoga, where former chief minister S Bangarappa's last rites were performed on Tuesday with full state honours.

Sorab, with its winding narrow streets was brimming with people as VIPs cars zipped past and helicopters landed at the three helipads bringing in leaders. As the last bugle was sounded, Bangarappa's younger son Madhu lit the pyre as per his father's wish around 5.30 pm.

It is learnt that Bangarappa had made it clear that Madhu should perform the last rites after the family split due to political ideologies in 2004. Of Bangarappa's five children---two sons and three daughters - the brothers Madhu and former MLAKumar Bangarappahad parted ways.

Madhu stayed back with his father, when the latter contested the Shimoga Lok Sabha seat on a BJPticket in the 2004 elections and won. In 2008 the family feud resulted in Bangarappa losing Sorab when the brothers fought against each other for the assembly seat.

Bangarappa was cremated in his ancestral land adjacent to government junior college. It took nearly three hours for the body to be brought from Kubatur, 30 km from Sorab as people thronged to get a glimpse of the leader who had championed for the cause of the down-trodden.

Chief ministerD V Sadananda Gowda, who flew in with BJP state president K S Eshwarappa announced the government could construct a memorial for Bangarappa in Sorab.

Former CM B S Yeddyurappa said the BJP had gained during Bangarappa's short stint in the BJP. The funeral was attended by former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who came in another chopper besides KPCC president G Parameshwara among others.

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