Former Karnataka CM, Dharam Singh passes away at 80 after cardiac arrest

Dharam Singh was the ruling party's state unit President from 1999-2004

Former Karnataka Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh passed away at a private hospital here on Thursday. He was 80.

He is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter.

"Singh died at 11.54 a.m. following a massive heart attack in the intensive care unit (ICU)," a spokesperson of M.S. Ramaiah Hospital told IANS.

Singh, who has been ailing for some time due to age-related symptoms, was in the hospital for treatment to his respiratory system.

A veteran Congress leader for over six decades, Singh was the Chief Minister of the first coalition government in the southern state from May 28, 2004 to February 3,