Bangalore:
Karnataka Higher Education Minister VS Acharya died of a heart attack during a function today.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minster, who was 71 years old, collapsed on the stage during the function. He was brought to a private hospital in Bangalore, where he was declared dead, according to sources.
"He (Acharya) is no more with us," Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said as he rushed to the Hospital to pay his last respects.
Dr Acharya had served as the Home Minister of Karnataka. A member of the Legislative Council, he also held the portfolios of Planning and Statistics, Information Technology and Biotechnology.
Sources say that he was not keeping well for some time.
A registered medical practitioner, Dr Acharya, born on July 6, 1940, started his political career in the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh and was President of Udupi city Municipality from 1968 to 1976.
Dr Acharya is survived by wife, four sons and a daughter.
It's a huge loss for the BJP as he had a clean track record in the state.
(With PTI inputs)