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The 51-year-old President of Karnataka Janata Dal (Secular), Merajuddin Patel expired in Gulbarga on October 7, 2008. The former minister died of heart attack. Last year, Patel underwent a major heart surgery after suffering from severe cardiac arrest in the legislative assembly. Merajuddin Patel was the minister for municipal administration in the H D Deve Gowda government besides being elected thrice to the Assembly from Humnabad in Bidar district of Karnataka. The Chief Minster of the state B S Yeddyurappa, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, and several other top political leaders condoled the loss of such a high-principle leader.
The former minister also served as animal husbandry and wakf minister in the Dharam Singh-led coalition government. Patel was born on March 1958 in a family of landlords at Huckanhalli. He entered into politics by contesting the Gram panchayat election. He also became the chairman of the Huckanhalli Mandal Panchayat. He was a man of integrity and committed to secular principles. Patel is survived by his wife Nasrin Fatima and seven daughters. The last rites of the departed leader will be conducted at Humnabad on October 8.
