Former MLA Vasu passes away in Mysuru

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Former MLA Vasu (72), a Congress leader, passed away at a private hospital early on Saturday.

He was battling an illness for the last few weeks, and succumbed to multi-organ failure. His mortal remains were kept for public viewing and Darshan at his residence in Jayalakshmipuram in the city till Sunday afternoon.

His last rites will be performed in presence of his large number of relatives, friends at Vidvas Vikas Educational Institutions premises on Bannur road in the city, according to his family sources.

Vasu had served as political secretary to former CM Veerappa Moily before trying his luck in assembly polls. He won in 2013 from the Chamaraja segment but lost in the subsequent election.

He didn’t get a ticket in 2023. Following this, he was upset against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and remained away from campaigning for Congress candidates in the last assembly elections.

But he sprung a surprise, by attending a preliminary meeting convened by Congress leaders held at a private resort near the city to discuss parliamentary polls preparations recently.

He was also one of Congress aspirant for Mysuru Kodagu Parliamentary seat. Vasu has established educational institutions including an engineering college and was the proprietor of Kannada daily.

He was an influential Vokkaliga leader in the Mysuru district. He began his political journey by electing as a Congress corporator in 1983, also became a mayor of MCC once in 1990.

He also served as vice president of the state apex cooperative bank. Vasu, who was also an industrialist, served as a president for Mysuru Industries Association.

He was survived by his three sons including Kavishgowda, chairman of Vidyavikas Institute of Engineering and Technology, who unsuccessfully contested as a BJP candidate in Chamundeshwari assembly segment against JDS G T Deveogowda in the last assembly elections.

People of various walks of life paid tributes to the departed soul and condoled the death of Vasu.

In his condolence message, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar remembered the contributions of Vasu in strengthening his party in the region, void he created in his party by his death.