Senior BJP leader and Higher Education Minister VS Acharya passed away after a massive heart attack during a function here on Feb 14.
Seventy-two-year-old Acharya, who was not keeping well for some time, collapsed while participating at a seminar, organised by the Karnataka State Government College Principals Forum, and was rushed to Mallige Medical Centre, where he was declared dead.
One of the senior-most figures of the ruling BJP, soft-spoken Acharya, a medical practitioner by profession, was respected by politicians cutting across party lines. He is survived by wife, four sons and a daughter.
A member of the state Legislative Council, Acharya, born on July six, 1939 in the coastal town of Udupi, also held the portfolios of Planning and Statistics, Muzrai, Information Technology and Biotechnology.
He earlier also served as Home Minister, state BJP vice-president and Udupi district BJP President.
The Cabinet held an emergency meeting and condoled the death, expressing profound grief.
