Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jun 13: A well-known political personality, A G Kodgi, who was known as Bheeshma of Coastal Politics breathed his last at the age of 93 years at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal on Monday June 13.

He was undergoing treatment for dengue at the hospital. However, he succumbed on Monday.

A political veteran Gopalakrishna Kodgi well-known as A G Kodgi was an LLB graduate, a revolutionary agriculturist, a senior in politics, a good orator, a journalist and had great vision on various matters. During his last days, he was a president of Amasebailu Charitable Trust and kept himself busy in social activities. He was elected MLA twice from Byndoor (1972 -83). He was the chairman of the Third Finance Commission Implementation Task Force committee, president of Udupi BJP unit, vice president of Karnataka BJP. He was a member of the Mangaluru Zilla Parishat and also the financial committee.

He was the son of freedom fighter Krishnaraya Kodgi, a resident of Amasebailu from Kundapur taluk. He was born on October 1, 1929. He started his political journey with the Congress party. He joined BJP in 1993 and announced retirement from politics at the age of 85. He had an illustrious career in the political field for over five decades. He had a great rapport with national level political leaders and he was a friendly person to all.

Many new initiatives were taken up under his leadership. One of the major projects, Amasebailu became Karnataka's first solar-powered gram panchayat. The brain behind this project, A G Kodgi, president of Amasebailu Charitable Trust had envisioned the project to provide solar lights to all the households in his village when he was the chairman of Third Finance Commission Implementation Task Force.

He joined BJP in 1993 and served as the party president of Kundapur taluk, state vice-president of Udupi district and occupied other prominent positions. In 2009, he was appointed as the president of the State Third Financial Implementation Committee.

He was responsible for some remarkable works in the cooperative society sector. He served as the chairman of Shankanarayana C A Bank, director of District Central Cooperative bank, president of APMC Mangaluru and worked as member of State Marketing Board.

He also served as a director of Karnataka Bank from 1982-1990.

He is survived by his wife Sunanda, son A Kiran Kumar Kodgi, vice-president, State Food Commission; A Kishore Kumar Kodgi , president, CAMPCO ; Ashok Kumar Kodgi, district president, Karnataka Pradesh Krishika Samaj, Udupi, two more sons and a daughter.

The funeral rites will be held on Tuesday June 14 in his hometown Amasebailu of Kundapur Taluk.

BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel and many other political leaders have offered their deep condolences to his family.