TNN
Bangalore, Feb 20: Former Union minister Basavarajeshwari (86) died in Bellary after prolonged illness on Tuesday. She had represented Bellary in the Lok Sabha for three terms. She served as minister for state for women and child welfare in Narasimha Rao’s cabinet, was MLA for three terms and MLC once. She also served as deputy speaker of the legislative assembly.
Basavarajeshwari spent most of her active political life of over four decades in the Congress. But distanced herself from the party after she was denied a Lok Sabha ticket in 1996.
The BJP succeeded in wooing this influential Lingayat leader to its fold in 2004. Her son S J V Mahipal is a member of the BJP state executive committee.