Leaders cutting across party lines including caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao expressed grief at the untimely death of Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs H.N. Ananth Kumar at a Bengaluru hospital on Monday.

Recollecting the role of Ananth Kumar as parliamentarian and as a political leader, Mr. Rao said in statement that the departed leader was friendly with every MP cutting across party lines. Mr. Rao conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family.

Former Union Minister and BJP MP Bandaru Dattatraya, in his message, recollected his association with Ananth Kumar not only as a Cabinet colleague but also as an MP.

Expressing grief at the Union Minister’s death, State president of BJP K. Laxman said he was a compassionate person and used to interact with the leaders from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in Telugu.

Karimnagar MP from TRS B. Vinod Kumar, in his condolence message, recollected the departed leader’s role in reviving Ramagundam fertilizers and bifurcation of High Court. He also lauded Ananth Kumar’s support for statehood to Telangana during the debate on the bill in Parliament. Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha and caretaker Minister for IT and Industries K.T. Rama Rao have also tweeted expressing their grief at the Union Minister’s death.