Mysuru: Animal Husbandry Minister K.Venkatesh said that former Union and State Minister V. Sreenivasa Prasad, who had served as Chamarajanagar MP many times,was a straight forward person and committed politician who can be a model to present crop of politicians.
He was speaking at the 78th birth anniversary of V. Sreenivasa Prasad organised under the joint aegis of University of Mysore’s Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Research and Extension Centre, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Educational and Cultural Trust, V. Sreenivasa Prasad Abhimaanigala Balaga, Samaanate-Swabhimaana- Swaavalambane Pratishtana and Samaanathe Prakashana at Vishwagnani auditorium in Manasagangothri campus here yesterday.
Noting that V. Sreenivasa Prasad embodied social concerns and thoughts on upliftment of the society, Venkatesh said that the late Union Minister was an ideological person. “Prasad had great concerns and care for all sections of the society,” he maintained.
Recalling his association with Prasad since he entered politics, the Minister said the two used to often discuss many issues bothering the society. Though he has seen and talked to many politicians in his (Venkatesh) 45 year long political journey, Prasad was one among the most outstanding politicians that he was associated with.
Noted TV serial Director T.N.Seetharam who delivered a talk on Sreenivasa Prasad’s social and cultural concerns, said that he first met Prasad during the days of Emergency. Stating that while P.G.R. Sindhia was appointed as the President and V. Sreenivasa Prasad as the Vice-President of the then Janata Party when LS polls were announced post-emergency, he said that thinker and Journalist P.Lankesh, who was a difficult man to convince, had wholeheartedly lauded the appointment of Prasad. Lankesh’s praise of Prasad did not get belied even after 50 years, he noted.
Recalling Prasad’s humility, simplicity and honesty, Seetharam said that the then Karnataka Janata Party Chief H.D. Deve Gowda had urged Litterateur Devanur Mahadeva and Sreenivas Prasad to contest on Janata Party ticket from the then Santemarahalli Constituency in the Assembly polls. But the two personalities recommended each other for the seat, which shows the mutual respect and honour the two had for each other. Prasad stands out as a role model for the current crop of politicians who vie with each other for getting party tickets for polls, he maintained.
Stating that he always felt that Sreenivas Prasad should become the Chief Minister of the State, Seetharam said Prasad, who was an influential member of the first Siddaramaiah led Congress Government, was a befitting candidate for the CM’s post, considering his humbleness and honesty. He believed that Prasad was not only a model politician, but also an ideal human being, he added.
Nanjangud MLA Darshan Dhruvanarayan, in his address, said that he got a feeling of self-satisfaction when the Nanjangud town flyover was named after Sreenivas Prasad. He also recalled Prasad had allowed him (Darshan) to stay and study in his room when he was preparing for Law entrance exam.
K.R. MLA T.S. Srivatsa recalled that Prasad had likened him (Srivatsa) to an Oasis in the desert at a presser after the BJP High command had allotted the party ticket to contest from K.R. Constituency. Stating that Prasad’s praise had largely enabled him to win the Assembly polls, Srivatsa announced that he would give Rs.10 lakh out of his Legislator’s fund for any academic activities that would be held in the name of Sreenivas Prasad.
Earlier, floral tributes were offered to the portraits of V. Sreenivasa Prasad, Buddha, Basava and Ambedkar.
Senior Journalist Amshi Prasannakumar too spoke.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Educational and Cultural Trust convener Pratima Prasad, who is the daughter of V. Sreenivasa Prasad, Dr. Ambedkar Research centre Director Prof. J. Somashekar, Samaanate Pratishtana President Prof.C. Basavaraju, Hon.President Dr. Neelagiri Talwar, Secretary Dr. Mullur Nanjundaswamy, Abhimaani Balaga General Secretary D.Venkataraju, Trustees Kumbralli Subbanna, who is also the District (Rural) BJP President, former MUDA Member Shivakumar and Shantaram Shetty were present.
This post was published on August 7, 2025 6:34 pm