Bangalore: A medical practitioner by
profession, Dr Vedavyasa Srinivasa Acharya was a rare
politician known for his integrity and public probity.
Karnataka Higher Education Minister, who died after
massive heart attack during a function here on Tuesday, became
President of Udupi Municipality at the age of 28 in 1968,
playing a key role in bringing the erstwhile Jana Sangh to
power.
In later years, he became the Udupi district BJP President
and State BJP President. During the Emergency in 1975-77 he
was imprisoned under 'MISA' for 19 months.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1983.
A member of the Legislative Council at the time of his
death, the soft-spoken Acharya also held the portfolios of
Planning and Statistics, Muzrai, Information Technology and
Biotechnology.
Born on July 6, 1939 in Udupi, Acharya was President of
the BJP Manifesto committee in 2008.
BJP stalwart LK Advani had often said the victory in
Udupi more than four decades ago had laid a foundation for a
BJP rule in south (Karnataka).
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 21:34