Chennamma Deve Gowda, former PM's wife, dies at 85

Chennamma Deve Gowda, the wife of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, died on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at a private hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka. She was in her late 80s. Her death followed a massive cardiac arrest while she was being treated for a respiratory illness.

According to hospital authorities, Chennamma was admitted to Manipal Hospital on the city's Old Airport Road on Wednesday, July 15, after her health deteriorated due to breathing difficulties. She was under intensive care. A medical bulletin issued on Friday indicated she was responding well to treatment, but on Saturday afternoon she suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite efforts by a multidisciplinary medical team, she could not be revived. Her husband, former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, their son and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, and other family members were present at the hospital.

News of her passing prompted an outpouring of condolences from political leaders across the spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief in a social media post, describing Chennamma as being admired for her humility and passion for serving society. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge recalled his long personal...