Bheemanna Khandre, who passed away on January 16, 2026, played an important role in the Karnataka Ekikarana (state unification) movement, especially in campaigns to ensure that Kannada-speaking districts of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, including Bidar, became part of Karnataka. He participated in agitations, delegations and submitting memoranda to national commissions and political leaders during the linguistic reorganisation of States, an issue that shaped regional politics in the 1950s and 1960s. His formal political career began with his election as president of the Bhalki Town Panchayat in 1952. He went on to serve multiple terms in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, and served as Transport Minister in the Congress government led by M. Veerappa Moily in the early 1990s. Beyond electoral politics, Khandre was closely associated with institution-building, especially in the field of education. As chairperson of the Shantivardhak Education Society, he oversaw the expansion of educational institutions, including schools, colleges and technical institutes, in Bidar district and neighbouring areas with a notable emphasis on access for rural students and women. Photo: Special Arrangement Born on January 8, 1923, at Gorta (B) village in Basavakalyana taluk of Bidar district in Karnataka, Bheemanna Khandre belonged to a generation that witnessed – and actively shaped – the transition from princely rule to democratic governance in Kalyana Karnataka. Photo: Special Arrangement Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with Bheemanna Khandre Photo: Special Arrangement Bheemanna Khandre with former PM Indira Gandhi Photo: Special Arrangement Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with former Karnataka Chief Minister Gundu Rao and Bheemanna Khandre Photo: Special Arrangement Bheemanna Khandre with former PM Rajiv Gandhi Photo: Special Arrangement Former PM Rajiv Gandhi having a word with Bheemanna Khandre Photo: Special Arrangement Former PM Rajiv Gandhi addressing a gathering with Bheemanna Khandre (right) Photo: Special Arrangement Former Karnataka Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily with Bheemanna Khandre Photo: Special Arrangement Bheemanna Khandre served as Transport Minister in the Congress government led by M. Veerappa Moily in the early 1990s. Photo: Special Arrangement Former Karnataka Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh with Bheemanna Khandre Photo: Special Arrangement Bheemanna Khandre being honoured for his contribution to public life in Karnataka Photo: Special Arrangement Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge greeting Bheemanna Khandre Photo: Special Arrangement Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah greeting Bheemanna Khandre Photo: Special Arrangement Family of Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre with his father Bheemanna Khandre Photo: Special Arrangement Bheemanna Khandre greeting grandson Sagar Eshwar Khandre who is the Lok Sabha member from Bidar Photo: Special Arrangement Bheemanna Khandre (1923-2026) was one of the most prominent public figures of Kalyana Karnataka Published – January 17, 2026 12:57 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Tribals hit streets to enforce Jharkhand bandh in protest against killing of village head Translator has to be functionally true to the author, says Justice Prabha Sridevan