Karnataka Congress leader Qamar-ul-Islam passes away

Sitting MLA and senior Karnataka Congress leader Qamar-ul-Islam died here today following a cardiac arrest, hospital sources said.

Qamar-ul-Islam (69) was suffering from diabetes, hypertension and neuromuscular disorder, sources at the Narayana Health Hospital, where he was admitted a few days ago, said.

A popular leader from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, the six-time MLA represented Gulbarga Northconstituency.

He had served as cabinet minister for housing and labour department in the Karnataka government, besides being a Lok Sabha member from 1996 to 1998.

He was dropped from the state cabinet by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah following a reshuffle in June 2016.

Various leaders, including Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues mourned the death.