Former Zaheerabad MLA Chengal Baganna passed away at midnight, on February 26, at a hospital in Hyderabad where he was receiving treatment. He had reportedly been contending with various health problems for some time now.
Baganna was elected as MLA in 1994 from Zaheerabad on a TDP ticket. The victory was a memorable one as the leader was the only non-Congress candidate to have achieved the feat. (The Congress had won the seat a record 12 times.)
After that, he contested in the 2004 elections against Congress leader Mohammed Fariduddin, but lost.
He had been part of the TDP for many years before later switching over to the BJP fold. Though he also contested in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections for the MP seat in Zaheerabad as a candidate of the saffron party, he lost the seat to Suresh Kumar Shetkar of the Congress.
The leader was known for his simplicity and austerity - he did not even own a house, and lived in a rented accommodation in Medak district's Zaheerabad till the end of his days.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao expressed his shock and sorrow at Baganna's passing, and conveyed his condolences to the latter's family.
He also praised the former MLA for his dedication to the public, and said that he would be remembered as a role model by the current generation of leaders.
Finance Minister T Harish Rao also paid floral tributes to Baganna today.
"Chengal Baganna was known for his integrity and for his tireless service to the poor. As MLA, and even after his tenure, he worked to develop his constituency, and always stood by his people. He will be remembered fondly," the minister said