Shivanand Koujalagi, former minister and former MP, no more

Shivanand Koujalagi, former minister, who died in Belagavi on October 30, 2026. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Shivanand Hemanand Koujalagi, former minister and former member of the Lok Sabha, died in Bailhongal in Belagavi district of Karnataka, on October 30. He was 87.A member of one the longest serving political families in northern Karnataka, Shivanand Koujalagi served as a minister in the cabinet of H. D. Deve Gowda in 1994, handling the Public Works Department. In 1996, he was elected to the Lok Sabha as a Janata Dal candidate.His father Hemanand (Hemappa) V. Koujalagi had served as a Lok Sabha member of the Congress in 1963.His son Mahantesh Koujalagi is the Congress MLA from Bailhongal.A long-time loyalist of Ramakrishna Hegde, Shivanand Koujalagi switched to H. D. Deve Gowda’s camp after the split in the Janata Parivar parties. He served as president of the KLE society in Belagavi till recently before being replaced by his son.Mahantesh Koujalagi announced his father’s demise on his social media handles. “He was a great soul who dedicated his entire life to education, co-operation, and social service, bringing light into the lives of thousands of students. His ideals, his sacrifices, and his service to the people have always been a source of inspiration for me,” he said.“Shivanand Koujalagi was a gentleman politician,” recalled Ashok Chandaragi, a long-time associate and former general secretary of the Rashtreeya Nava Nirmana Vedike, founded by Mr. Hegde. “Shivanand Koujalagi belonged to the generation of politicians who believed in the value-based politics preached by Ramakrishna Hegde. I have never seen him lose his temper. He was never known to indulge in the politics of vendetta, or use unparliamentary language to describe his opponents. He also never went around flaunting his power, influence or wealth. With his death, we have lost a leader with honour,” he said.The final rites are planned in the Lingayat burial ground on Anigol Road in Bailhongal on October 30 noon. Apart from senior leaders from Belagavi, a senior minister from Bengaluru is expected to participate, family sources said. Published - October 30, 2026 10:39 am IST