M.H. Ambareesh, who distanced himself from active politics during the 2018 Legislative Assembly elections, was a politician who fought hard on issues affecting the State.

The actor-turned politician served as the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting in the UPA government, led by the Manmohan Singh government. However, he resigned from the ministry in 2008.

A three-time MP, Mr. Ambareesh was elected to the 12, 13 and 14th Lok Sabha from Mandya constituency. He had served as the Housing Minister in the Siddaramaiah government. He was dropped from the Cabinet by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2017.

He was a member of the Assembly from 2013 to 2018. Though the party had given him ‘B’ Form to contest the 2018 Assembly elections, Mr. Ambareesh did not contest from the Mandya Assembly Constituency, citing health issues.

True to his ‘rebel star’ style, Mr. Ambareesh was an avid racer and active member of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC). He opposed his government’s move to relocate the BTC saying racing is not gambling, and hundreds of families would lose their livelihood if it is moved out of the city.

Mr. Ambareesh questioned the motive behind the move to relocate the club. Noting that even in New Delhi, the Prime Minister’s official residence (7 Race Course Road) is very close to the Delhi Race Course, he opposed relocation of the BTC. Congress leaders M. Mallikarjun Kharge, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Siddaramaiah, G. Parameshwara, D.K. Shivakumar and others condoled his death.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Nagesh Prabhu / Bengaluru – November 25th, 2018