Mysuru: A sea of people jostled and struggled to get a glimpse of the mortal remains of 39-year-old Rakesh, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who had passed away in Belgium on Saturday following multiple organ failure.

There were villagers and friends from his native Siddaramanahundi with a fistful of flowers; there were politicos carrying huge wreaths waiting to pay their tribute, and Governor Vajubhai Vala and Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh joining former CMs B.S. Yeddyurappa and H.D. Kumaraswamy to give the inconsolable and tearful Siddaramaiah, hugs and words of comfort.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pays last respects to his son Rakesh in Mysuru on Monday
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pays last respects to his son Rakesh in Mysuru on Monday

The loss and agony was written all over Mr Siddaramaiah's face and he could not hold back the tears when Union minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda - who too, had lost his son a few years ago -embraced him. Not even tough looking Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar could retain his composure as he held the CM, unable to hide the grief in his eyes.

The funeral was held at Rakesh's farmhouse at T. Karur with his 11-year-old son, Dhavan performing the final rites. Mr Siddaramaiah, wife Parvathamma, their second son Dr Yathindra, Rakesh's wife Smitha, their daughter, Siddaramaiah's brothers Ramegowda and Siddegowda and ministers including home minister Dr G. Parameshwar attended.

State JD(S) chief H.D. Kumaraswamy at the funeral
State JD(S) chief H.D. Kumaraswamy at the funeral

Rituals
Pontiffs led by Sri Niranjanandapuriswamiji, of Kaaginele Mahasamsthana, Kanaka Gurupeeta performed the rituals and the body was buried amidst the chanting of vedas and mantras. Eight copper plates inscribed with the mantra akshara and eight lamps were placed around the site.

Rakesh’s body, which arrived at the Bengaluru International Airport on Emirates Flight EK 564 at 9.36am, was brought to Mysuru on a special flight at 11.10 am.

Mr Siddaramaiah, who accompanied his son’s body to the Doddakere grounds at 12.50 noon, where it was placed for public viewing, could not contain his tears as he stood by it for over an hour, expressing his gratitude with folded palms to the over 1.25 lakh people, who had lined up as early as around 6am to pay their respects to the departed young leader.

AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh offers floral tribute
AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh offers floral tribute

Besides his cabinet colleagues and senior Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Veerappa Moily, Oscar Fernandes, V Srinivasprasad, K B Koliwad and Umashree, leaders cutting across party lines arrived to condole the Chief Minister on his tragic loss.

They included former Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, BJP leaders, K S Eshwarappa and C T Ravi, Janata Dal (Secular) leaders H D Kumaraswamy, P G R Sindhia and Y S V Datta.

Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and senior Congress leader D K Shivkumar were seen shedding tears with Mr Siddaramaiah as they sympathised with his loss. Religious heads of different faiths too were present at the grounds.

The body was taken to T Katur at around 2.30 pm where the rites were performed in the presence of the Chief Minister, his wife, Parvathamma, Rakesh’s widow, Smitha and their two children, his younger son, Dr Yathindra, and his brothers Ramegowda and Siddegowda and close friends and relatives.

an emotional CM with Public Works Minister Dr H.C. Mahadevappa
an emotional CM with Public Works Minister Dr H.C. Mahadevappa

With public entry restricted for the final rites, the roads leading to the farm in T Katur were blocked for about a kilometer between Hullalli and Udbur. For supporters of the young leader, like Yogeesh of Jettihundi village, it was a distressing day.

Recalling that he had attended “Anna’s” (Rakesh’s) birthday celebrations in T Narsipur on July 13, Yogeesh said he had hosted a lunch for 1500 people, distributed sarees to women, and fruits and milk to patients in hospitals on the occasion. “He was fine then. We never even dreamt this would happen!” he cried.