Karnataka Cooperation and Sugar Minister HS Mahadeva Prasad died on Monday after suffering a heart attack, The Hindu reported. He was 58. The five-time MLA was at a resort in Chikmagalur, where he was supposed to attend a function. He was found dead by his staff on Tuesday morning after he did not come out of his room or answer calls.

Prasad was first elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the Gundlupet constituency in the Chamarajnagar district of the state. He also served as Kannada and Culture Minister between 2005-2007 as part of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government. A Siddaramaiah loyalist, Prasad left the JD(S) and joined the Congress along with the chief minister in 2007.

The state government declared a one-day holiday on Tuesday and announced three days of state mourning, the Deccan Chronicle reported. Siddaramaiah called the minister’s demise “a huge personal loss and to [the] Congress party”. “He was an able administrator and a clean politician. I have lost a close friend and a wonderful colleague,” the chief minister said. Prasad is survived by his wife and son. His last rites will take place in Gundlupet tomorrow.