Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jul 26: Former minister and five-time MLA Vasanth V Salian, who passed on Saturday July 25, was cremated with state honours at Katapady here on Sunday July 26.
The final rites were held Salian's residence near forest gate amid a large gathering of family, friends, well-wishers and supporters.
Ministers Vinay Kumar Sorake, U T Khader, Ramanath Rai, former union minister Janardhan Poojary, MLAs Gopal Poojary, Halady Srinivas Shetty, J R Lobo, MLCs Kota Srinivas Poojary, Ivan D'Souza, former MLAs Gopal Bhandary, Lalaji Mendon, former MP Jayaprakash Hegde and many other leaders paid their last respects.
Three rounds of bullets were fired in the air, in the presence of Udupi tahsildar Guruprasad, additional SP and other officers.
The last rites were performed by his sons-in-law Gangadhar Suvarna and Kamalaksha Suvarna.
A large number of leaders and supporters from Congress, JD(S) and BJP condoled his demise.
People in Kaup and Katapady observed a volunteer bandh as a mark of respect.
Salian entered politics in the year 1978 and was in Congress party for a long time. He was first elected as Katapady gram panchayat vice-president, and went on to serve the Youth Congress, Kaup block Congress, NSUI and Congress backward class committee in various capacities.
For 21 years from 1983 to 2004, he was elected as MLA five times, and served as state minister for fisheries and ports, and as Udupi district incharge minister during the tenures of Veerappa Moily and S M Krishna as chief ministers.
In 2004 and 2009, he contested from Congress but lost both the times. In 2013, he contested the Assembly election with JD(S) ticket, but lost again. In 2014, he moved over to BJP. All through his political career, he undertook various development works and gained much popularity and affection from the public.