Minister of State for Railways and four time Member of Parliament from Belagavi in Karnataka, Suresh Angadi passed away on Wednesday. He was admitted to the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in New Delhi after he tested positive for the coronavirus.
Angadi was admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre on September 11, at around 6.30 pm and a team of doctors led by an associate professor in the department of medicine at AIIMS was treating him.
Taking to his Twitter account, Angadi had announced, “I have tested #Covid19 positive today. I am doing fine. Taking the advice of doctors. Requesting all those who have come in close contact with me in the last few days to monitor their health and get tested in case of any symptoms.”
Known for being a staunch BJP loyalist and an educationist, he was considered a strongman in Belagavi, especially after he was made the district president of the party in 2001.
After first contesting elections in 2004, he saw re-elections in 2009, 2014 and 2019 in Belagavi. Though he was up for a Union Cabinet seat in 2014 after he won three elections in a row, the BJP high command ultimately declined to elevate him.
Angadi has also served on many Parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committee for Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution from 2004 to 2009. Between 2009 and 2014, he was on the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development. In the same period, he was a member of the Joint Committee on Pension and Salaries and Allowances of MPs, as well the Advisory Committee on Central Direct Taxes.
Condolences poured in at the news of the Minister’s passing. Former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara tweeted, “Shocked to hear about the sudden demise of Union Minister for State Railways @SureshAngadi_. My deepest condolences to his family. May the almighty give them the strength to bare this irreplaceable loss.”
Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/2QDHQe0Pmj
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2020
Tragic terrible sad news of @BJP4Karnataka leader n minister @SureshAngadi_ passing away #OmShanthi pic.twitter.com/YFOLrfy0U0
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@rajeev_mp) September 23, 2020
Shocked to hear about the sudden demise of Union Minister for State Railways @SureshAngadi_. My deepest condolences to his family. May the almighty give them the strength to bare this irreplaceable loss. pic.twitter.com/e1LLTEZuDJ
— Dr. G Parameshwara (@DrParameshwara) September 23, 2020
I am shocked and deeply saddened by the demise of Union Minister of State for Railways and four-term MP from Belagavi Shri. Suresh Angadi @SureshAngadi_ .
— H D Devegowda (@H_D_Devegowda) September 23, 2020
He was like a younger brother to me. I feel terrible losing him. This is an unbearable loss to our nation.
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Deeply saddened to hear about the untimely demise of Sh Suresh Angadi, MoS Railways who succumbed to COVID. Heartfelt condolences to his family. I pray to Almighty that his soul rests in peace.
— Ghulam Nabi Azad (@ghulamnazad) September 23, 2020