AICC Secretary Suraj Hegde Dies At 55 After Cardiac Arrest In Bengaluru

AICC secretary and Karnataka government’s Guarantee Committee vice-chairman Suraj Hegde passed away late on Sunday night after suffering a cardiac arrest at a private hospital, party sources confirmed on Monday. He was around 55 years old at the time of his death. Hegde was a prominent Congress organisational leader and had previously served as the in-charge of the Indian Youth Congress. He also held the position of KPCC vice-president and was actively involved in the Karnataka Congress’s organisational and welfare-related initiatives.

His death has prompted widespread condolences from senior leaders across the party. According to reports, Hegde suffered a cardiac arrest and was admitted to a private hospital, where he was later declared dead. His sudden demise has been described as an unexpected loss within the Congress leadership, particularly in Karnataka, where he played an active role in both party organisation and government-linked committees.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expressed shock over Hegde’s death, describing him as a dedicated colleague who contributed significantly to strengthening the Congress party through organisational work and close engagement with party workers. He noted that Hegde maintained strong relations with grassroots workers and played an important role in state-level party affairs.

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Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also condoled Hegde’s death, recalling his work with the Indian Youth Congress and his commitment to the party’s ideals. He said Hegde had mentored several young leaders and described his passing as a major loss to the Congress family.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed deep sorrow, remembering Hegde as a young and committed leader who served the organisation with dedication. He also noted Hegde’s long association with the legacy of former Karnataka Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs, under whom he was known to have inherited values of social justice and equality.

Karnataka Congress president B K Hariprasad said Hegde had dedicated his life to the upliftment of marginalised communities, including backward classes and Dalits. Leaders across the party described his death as an irreparable loss, with tributes highlighting his organisational contribution and long-standing commitment to public service and party ideology.

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