The former Tiptur MLA and Karnataka education minister B.C. Nagesh was remembered by the BJP leaders for his contributions to education and public life on Wednesday.
B.C. Nagesh (65) died recently, and BJP leaders and party workers gathered together at the party's state headquarters, Jagannatha Bhavan in Bengaluru, to pay their last respects. Senior BJP leaders recalled his service to the party, his role in the education sector and his close relations with people.
BJP Karnataka president B.Y. Vijayendra, after paying his respects to Nagesh's mortal remains at the party office, said that the former minister had made a major contribution to the education sector during his tenure as a minister.
Vijayendra said Nagesh was a person who was friendly with everyone. He said the death of Nagesh was an irreparable loss to the BJP as his entire family had been in service of society.
"Nagesh made an immense contribution to the education sector as a minister,” Vijayendra said while recalling his interaction with the former legislator.
R. Ashoka, Karnataka's Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, also paid tribute to Nagesh and called him a simple person. According to Ashoka, Nagesh worked towards improving the condition of some schools during his tenure as education minister.
Ashoka also recalled Nagesh’s strong views on Indian values and patriotism and said that he had openly articulated his ideological beliefs throughout his public life.
Karnataka Legislative Council Leader of Opposition Chhalavadi Narayanaswamy described Nagesh as a soft-spoken and loving person and was known for his gentle personality. He said Nagesh was in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and had developed a spirit of social service and struggle from his student days.
Narayanaswamy said Nagesh devoted his whole life to serving people and remained dedicated to public causes.
Nagesh is also remembered as an active and energetic person by former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai. Bommai said Nagesh worked for the development of the Tiptur constituency and had made significant changes in the education system.
Nagesh’s education work left a lasting impression and represented his dedication to the education field, Bommai said.
N. Ravikumar, Karnataka Legislative Council Chief Whip, said Nagesh has left a good mark on the education sector. Nagesh had been doing social activities for many years and had been active in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) as a student, he recalled.
Ravikumar said Nagesh served as the organisation secretary of Bengaluru city during his student activist days and later worked as a full-time worker.
C.T. Ravi, a member of the Legislative Council, described Nagesh as a soft-hearted person and people-oriented leader who enjoyed the affection of the public. He said Nagesh was a friendly person who felt very ideological and was very close to people around him.
A condolence meeting was also organized at Jagannatha Bhavan to remember the former minister. Several senior BJP leaders, party workers and supporters attended this meeting and paid their last respects.
Nagesh’s political career was closely associated with Tiptur, as he represented the constituency as an MLA. As education minister, he was also at the helm of several activities and debates concerning Karnataka's education system.
The tributes from senior BJP leaders showed the various aspects of Nagesh's public life— his work in education, constituency development, ideological commitment, organisational service and his relationship with party workers and the public.
As party leaders and supporters are mourning his passing, they have recalled B.C. Nagesh as a leader with several decades of public and organisational service and a good deal of service in the political and educational landscape of Karnataka.
