Shivanand Koujalagi, former minister and ex-MP, no more

Shivanand Koujalagi, former minister who died in Belagavi on 30 October 2026. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Shivanand Hemanand Koujalagi, former minister and former Lok Sabha member, died at Bailhongal in Belagavi district of Karnataka on October 30. He was 87 years old.

A member of one of the longest-serving political families in north Karnataka, Shivanand Koujalagi served as a minister in HD Deve Gowda’s cabinet in 1994, in charge of the public works department. In 1996, he was elected to the Lok Sabha as a Janata Dal candidate.

His father Hemanand (Hemappa) V. Koujalagi served as a member of the Lok Sabha in the Congress in 1963.

His son Mahantesh Koujalagi is the Congress MLA from Bailhongal.

Shivanand Koujalagi, a long-time Ramakrishna Hegde loyalist, crossed over to HD Deve Gowda’s camp after a split in the Janata Parivar parties. Until recently, he served as the president of KLE in Belagavi, before being succeeded by his son.

Mahantesh Koujalagi announced the death of his father on his social media. “He was a great soul who dedicated his entire life to education, cooperation and social service and brought light to the lives of thousands of students. His ideals, his sacrifices and service to people have always been a source of inspiration for me,” he said.

“Shivanand Koujalagi was a gentleman politician,” recalled Ashok Chandaragi, a longtime associate and former general secretary of Rashtreeya Nava Nirmana Vedike, which was founded by Mr. Hegde. “Shivanand Koujalagi belonged to a generation of politicians who believed in value-based politics preached by Ramakrishna Hegde. I never saw him lose his temper. He was not known to indulge in vendetta politics or use unparliamentary language to describe his opponents. He also never flaunted his power, influence or wealth,” he said. His leader and I have lost honor.

The final rites are scheduled at the Lingayat burial ground on Anigol Road in Bailhongal on October 30 at noon. Apart from senior leaders from Belagavi, a senior minister from Bengaluru is also expected to attend, family sources said.

Published – 30 Oct 2026 10:39 IST