India Today : Mar 04, 2019, 04:21 PM
Venur Dhananjay Kumar, a Vajpayee-era Union Minister who worked in all of Karnataka's three main parties, including the Congress, died in Mangaluru on Monday. He was 67, and suffering from a prolonged illness. He joined Congress in August 2017. V Dhananjay Kumar held the civil aviation and tourism portfolios as a cabinet minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and later, handled finance & textiles as minister of state.He was 67, and suffering from a prolonged illness.V Dhananjay Kumar held the civil aviation and tourism portfolios as a cabinet minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee (16 May 1996 - 2 June 1996), and later, handled finance (1999-2000) and textiles as a minister of state (2000-2002).Born in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district in 1951, Kumar earned degrees in science and law and held a number of influential positions in a political career that spanned decades.He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991, and would serve on committees on industry, steel and mines, commerce and petroleum. He headed the BJP's unit in Dakshina Kannada for four years, between 1986 and 1990.A report in the Hindu newspaper describes how the BJP, "angered by Kumar’s criticisms against leaders such LK Advani," expelled him.After leaving the saffron party with BS Yeddyurappa, a former chief minister of Karnataka (who rejoined the BJP and is now its leader in Karnataka), he joined the Janata Dal (Secular) in 2014. the newspaper said.