K. Jana Krishnamurthy, one of the founder-leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, died in Chennai on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 79 and is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.
Admitted to a private hospital for renal failure more than a month ago, he later slipped into a coma.
A native of Madurai, Mr. Krishnamurthy, popularly called “Jana,†was born in a lawyer’s family. He had his college education in the temple town. A product of the Law College in Chennai, he practised law in Madurai for 12 years.
Oratorical skills
He was recognised for his oratorical skills in college and won prizes in inter-collegiate debates.
Mr. Krishnamurthy, whose association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh began since his student days, gave up his law practice and joined the Bharatiya Jan Sangh as a full timer on the call of Atal Bihari Vajpayee immediately after the death of the then BJS president Deendayal Upadhyaya in February 1968. Seven years later, he became the president of the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJS.
After the merger of the Sangh with the Janata Party in 1977 and till the BJP’s inception in 1980, he was the general secretary of the State unit of the Janata Party.
Held different positions
After the formation of the BJP, Mr. Krishnamurthy occupied different positions at the national level and for about 15 years he was the vice-president of the party. When Bangaru Laxman quit in March 2001 following the “Tehelka tapes†controversy, he became the party president and held the post till June 2002 when he was succeeded by M. Venkaiah Naidu.
Elected to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat in April 2002, Mr. Krishnamurthy became the Union Law and Justice Minister two months later. He held the post till January 2003.
He served in various Parliamentary committees. When he was the chairman of the Petitions Committee, the panel brought out in August 2005 a report on petrol adulteration.
He had been keeping a low profile for some time and did not attend the party national executive meeting in Chennai in September 2005.
L. Ganesan, president of the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP, recalling Jana’s services to the party and sacrifices, said that it was a great coincidence that his death took place on the birth anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyaya after whose death Jana totally dedicated himself to the BJS. “I have lost my guru,†Mr. Ganesan added.
About a week ago, the former Deputy Prime Minister L.K.Advani visited the ailing leader in hospital.
The cremation will take place here on Wednesday. Source: Hindu
