There was shock and disbelief in Udupi city and district as the news of the death of Higher Education Minister V.S. Acharya in Bangalore, reached here on Tuesday.
Political leaders cutting across political lines and other eminent persons showered their praise on Dr. Acharya, who was among the senior politicians of the district.
The former Minister and Congress leader K. Jayaprakash Hegde said that Dr. Acharya rose from the municipal to the State level as a politician. “His name was untarnished till the end. To be honest is a great achievement in politics. When I was the Udupi District In-charge Minister, he used to give good suggestions to me.” he said.
Janata Dal (Secular) district unit president Deviprasad Shetty said he had joined politics inspired by the speeches given by Dr. Acharya as the president of Dakshina Kannada district unit of the Janata Party after the Emergency. “He was my political guru. He followed value-based politics. His knowledge of financial matters was phenomenal.” he said.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretary K. Shankar said that Dr. Acharya had rendered immense contribution for the development of the district.
Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said that Karnataka had lost a decent politician. He had strived hard for the economic and industrial development of the State.
“He was liked by all including his adversaries. He had a spotless character. He was an adviser to me,” he said.
The former President of Udupi Town Municipal Council and close confidante of Dr. Acharya, Somashekhar Bhat said that Dr. Acharya was an exemplary leader. “Even his opponents liked him because of his deep understanding of administration and cordial nature,” he said.
Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat said: “He guided me throughout my political career. People in Udupi will remember his work for decades to come,” he said.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former president of Udupi Town Municipal Council Gujjadi Prabhakar Nayak said that Dr. Acharya was a good organiser and trainer of workers. “He always thought about the betterment of the State,” he said.
Convener of Udupi Consumers' Forum K. Damodar Aithal said that Dr. Acharya had stopped the night soil carrying system as the president of Udupi Town Municipal Council.
He was responsible for implementing the Swarna River Drinking Water Scheme, which provided water for Udupi city.
He had rendered immense contribution to the State by starting new medical colleges, he said.
