Former BJP Minister B.C. Nagesh passes away

Former Karnataka Minister B.C. Nagesh, a 65-year-old member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, succumbed to illness on Tuesday at his daughter's residence in Bengaluru. The former two-time MLA from Tiptur had been serving as the Minister for School Education and Literacy from 2021 to 2023 within the Basavaraj Bommai-led Cabinet. His tenure was marred by controversy, primarily due to the textbook revision that faced accusations of "saffronisation", and the prohibition of hijab-wearing girl students in classrooms.

A trained engineer, Nagesh was an active member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) during his student years before joining the BJP. He won the Tiptur constituency twice, in 2008 and 2018. The BJP State president, B.Y. Vijayendra, conveyed his condolences, highlighting Nagesh's simplicity, ideological dedication, and pro-people stance during his political career.

The BJP leader also praised his significant contributions to the party and the state through the reforms he introduced as the education minister. The body of the late minister will be kept at Jagannath Bhavan in Malleswaram from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., with the final rites to be held in Tiptur later in the day.