Karnataka Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Umesh Katti passes away at 61

Katti, who had proposed the bifurcation of Karnataka in the past, never shied away from expressing his desire to become Chief Minister. The seven-time MLA has been minister four times from different parties, under different chief ministers — from Janata Party to the BJP.

Katti was an MLA from Hukkeri constituency in Belagavi — his home turf that he took charge of after his father Vishwanath Hukkeri’s demise.

Condolences poured in for Umesh Katti from political leaders across parties.

ಅರಣ್ಯ ಸಚಿವ, ನನ್ನ ಆಪ್ತ ಸಹೋದ್ಯೋಗಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಉಮೇಶ್ ಕತ್ತಿ ಅವರ ಅಕಾಲಿಕ ನಿಧನದಿಂದ ತೀವ್ರ ದುಃಖಿತನಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಅವರ ನಿಧನದಿಂದ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಓರ್ವ ನುರಿತ ಮುತ್ಸದ್ಧಿ,ಕ್ರಿಯಾಶೀಲ ಮುಖಂಡ ಹಾಗೂ ನಿಷ್ಠಾವಂತ ಜನಸೇವಕನನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡಿದೆ. ಅವರ ಅಗಲಿಕೆಯ ದುಃಖವನ್ನು ಸಹಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಆ ಭಗವಂತ ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬಕ್ಕೆ ನೀಡಲಿ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ pic.twitter.com/tcfNlw9Cdr

— Basavaraj S Bommai (Modi Ka Parivar) (@BSBommai) September 6, 2022

Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Food & Civil Supplies Minister Shri Umesh Katti.

My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/r1MqujopIJ

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 6, 2022

I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of my dear colleague and good friend, Honourable Minister of Forest, Shri. Umesh Katti Avaru. My prayers go out to his family and loved ones. Om Shanti!

— Dr. Murugesh R Nirani (@NiraniMurugesh) September 6, 2022

A political family

A powerful leader from the influential Katti family in Belladbagewadi in the Belagavi region, Katti was a minister in cabinets headed by HD Kumaraswamy, BS Yediyurappa and finally Bommai.

Katti, who started his political career in the Janata Party, has hopped several parties before landing in the BJP.

He was elected MLA for the first time in 1985 in a by-election on a Janata Party ticket. By the next election in 1989, he had joined the Janata Dal and won again.

Katti’s winning streak continued for the next two terms, with him contesting on a JD(U) ticket in 1999.

Katti then shifted to Congress, but tasted electoral defeat for the first time.

In 2008, Katti contested on a JD(S) ticket and won. This time, however, he shifted to the BJP along with other legislators of the JD(S) and the Congress. He was among the first legislators in Karnataka to join the saffron party in 2008 in what is now infamously called “Operation Kamala (lotus)”.

That year, Katti went on to become a minister in the first BJP government in Karnataka under Yediyurappa.

It was in 1996 that Katti became a minister for the first time. In line with the politics that came to define him and his father, Katti was made the minister for sugar. He has also held the forest, horticulture and agricultural portfolios through his career.

Katti’s controversies

Not one to shy away from speaking his mind, Katti often found himself in the midst of controversies. As recently as last week, Katti had defended Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the seer accused of child sexual abuse.

Katti has repeatedly made it to the headlines for expressing his desire to be chief minister of Karnataka. His statements demanding bifurcation of Karnataka into southern districts and northern districts often drew flak.

Katti is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.