(Image source from: The Hindu)

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister Ananth Kumar, 59, died early Monday morning in Bengaluru.

Parliamentary Affairs and Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister and a Member of Parliament from Bengaluru South, Kumar had not been keeping well, Ministry officials said. He was undergoing treatment for cancer and had come back from the United States in October after treatment at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York.

President Ram Nath Kovind described his death as a "tragic loss to public life" and "particularly for the people of Karnataka."

"Sad to hear the passing of Union minister and veteran parliamentarian HN Ananth Kumar," the President said in his tweet.

Sad to hear of the passing of Union minister and veteran parliamentarian Shri H.N. Ananth Kumar. This is a tragic loss to public life in our country and particularly for the people of Karnataka. My condolences to his family, colleagues and countless associates #PresidentKovind

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 12, 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the death of the minister.

"Extremely saddened by the passing away of my valued colleague and friend, Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. He was a remarkable leader, who entered public life at a young age and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion. He will always be remembered for his good work," PM Modi tweeted.

Extremely saddened by the passing away of my valued colleague and friend, Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. He was a remarkable leader, who entered public life at a young age and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion. He will always be remembered for his good work.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 12, 2018

He added, "He worked hard to strengthen the party in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru and surrounding areas. He was always accessible to his constituents."

Ananth Kumar Ji was an able administrator, who handled many ministerial portfolios and was a great asset to the BJP organisation. He worked hard to strengthen the Party in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru and surrounding areas. He was always accessible to his constituents.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 12, 2018

"I spoke to his wife, Dr. Tejaswini Ji and expressed condolences on the passing away of Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. My thoughts are with his entire family, friends, and supporters in this hour of grief and sadness. Om Shanti," he said.

I spoke to his wife, Dr. Tejaswini Ji and expressed condolences on the passing away of Shri Ananth Kumar Ji. My thoughts are with his entire family, friends and supporters in this hour of grief and sadness. Om Shanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 12, 2018

He is expected to arrive at 10.30 a.m. in the city to pay tribute to the senior party leader.

The Karnataka government has declared a statewide holiday today, along with a three-day state mourning. Government offices, schools, and colleges in the state would remain closed.

Further, the Ministry of Home Affairs has declared that the National Flag would fly at half mast throughout the country today and a state funeral would be accorded to Ananth Kumar.

Ananth Kumar is survived by his wife and two daughters.

The news of his death came as a shock to voters in Basavanagudi, where he lived, as he had been very active until recently. He actively campaigned for the May 12 Assembly polls, along with other Union Ministers Prakash Javdekar and Piyush Goyal.

-Sowmya Sangam