Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 19 : Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday visited the residence of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and paid his last respects to Gowda's wife, Chennamma, who passed away on Saturday due to illness at a private hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The former Chief Minister visited HD Deve Gowda's residence onevening and paid his last respects to Chennamma.
He described her as a pillar of strength who stood by her family through every phase of life and politics.
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Chennamma, the wife of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. As a member of the Janata Parivar, I shared a close bond with Deve Gowda's family and knew Chennamma intimately. Chennamma was a pillar of strength who faced the hardships and pains of life without faltering, confronting everything with courage. Amid the ups and downs of Deve Gowda's political journey, she shouldered the responsibilities of a large family and embodied the ideal homemaker," Siddaramaiah said in a post on X.
"Even as the consort of a former Prime Minister, Chennamma treated everyone with warmth and without any airs, living a full life as an exemplary wife. May the divine grant Deve Gowda, who has lost his long-time companion in these twilight years, the strength to bear this sorrow. My condolences to the Gowda family members. I share in their grief. May the departed soul attain eternal peace," the post added.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condoled Chennamma's demise and expressed sympathies to HD Deve Gowda, HD Kumaraswamy and the bereaved family.
In a post on X, Gandhi said, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Smt Chennamma, wife of former Prime Minister Shri H.D. Deve Gowda ji. Her strength was an enduring presence through decades of public service."
"My heartfelt condolences to Deve Gowda ji, Kumaraswamy ji and the entire bereaved family," he added.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also condoled Chennamma's demise. In a post on X, he said, "The news of the passing of Smt. Chennamma ji, the wife of former Prime Minister, the esteemed Shri H. D. Deve Gowda ji, is extremely heartbreaking."
"I pray to God that the departed soul be granted a place at His holy feet and that the bereaved family be endowed with the strength and fortitude to bear this unbearable sorrow. Om Shanti," he added.