BENGALURU: Senior Congress leader and AICC secretary Suraj Hegde passed away late Sunday night in Bengaluru after suffering a cardiac arrest, party sources said on Monday. He was around 55 years old.Hegde, who was serving as the vice chairman of the Karnataka government’s Guarantee Committee, died at a private hospital. A prominent Congress functionary, he had earlier served as the national in-charge of the Indian Youth Congress and was the grandson of former Karnataka chief minister Devaraj Urs.His sudden demise triggered an outpouring of condolences from top Congress leaders across the country, who remembered him as an influential organiser, mentor and committed party worker.Chief minister DK Shivakumar expressed grief over Hegde’s passing, describing it as a personal and organisational loss for the Congress party.“I am deeply shocked to learn of the sudden demise of my dear colleague Suraj Hegde, who served as AICC functionary, KPCC Vice-President, and Vice-Chairman of the State Guarantee Committee,” Shivakumar wrote on X.Praising Hegde’s contribution to the party, Shivakumar said his organisational abilities and commitment to public welfare were unmatched. “Today, we have lost an active leader who always maintained an excellent rapport with party workers,” he added.Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also mourned Hegde’s death, saying he had worked with an unwavering belief in the Congress party’s ideals.“As AICC Secretary and Former In-charge of the Indian Youth Congress, he worked with a deep belief in the party’s ideals. The Youth Congress was not just an assignment for him. He mentored young Indians who today carry forward the Congress’s commitment to justice and democracy,” Gandhi said in a post on X.Calling the loss irreparable, Gandhi added, “His demise is an irreparable loss to the Congress family. My condolences to his family, his colleagues, and every Congress karyakarta whose life he touched.”Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply saddened by the untimely death of Hegde, whom he described as “a young and promising leader who served the party with dedication as an AICC Secretary.”“Suraj was very close to my family, and I have known him since his teenage years. Watching him grow into a committed leader, deeply devoted to the organisation was truly heartening. He made immense contributions to the Youth Congress, while carrying forward the rich legacy and values of Devaraj Urs with sincerity and commitment,” Kharge said.State Congress working president BK Hariprasad said Hegde devoted his life to the welfare of backward classes, Dalits and other marginalised communities, and embodied the ideals of equality and social justice associated with Devaraj Urs.“Always committed to public service. He played a significant role in ensuring that the guarantee schemes reached the people,” Hariprasad said, calling Hegde’s death a major loss for both Karnataka and the Congress party.Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said Hegde’s passing was a great loss to the Congress family. “He worked tirelessly to strengthen the organisation and mentor young leaders. We will all remember him with affection, respect and gratitude,” she said.Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, AICC general secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, along with several Karnataka ministers and senior Congress leaders at both the state and national levels, also condoled Hegde’s death.(With PTI inputs)
