Prof M D Nanjundaswamy, a leading architect of the farmers' movement in Karnataka who fought against multinational companies, died after a prolonged illness at a hospital in Bangalore on Tuesday, family sources said.

Nanjundaswamy (68) breathed his last at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology hospital in the morning after his condition deteriorated on Monday night. He is survived by wife, a son and daughter.

A professor of law, Nanjundaswamy played a key role in shaping and strengthening the farmers' movement in the 1980s. He tried to give the movement political muscle by floating the Karnataka State Farmers Association and contesting the assembly polls in the 1980s. He was even elected to the assembly in 1989.

Nanjundaswamy battled MNCs, particularly in respect of genetically modified crops, targeting companies like Monsanto and remained a strong critic of the globalisation trend.