Senior TDP leader and industrialist MVVS Murthi was killed in a road accident in Alaska in the United States on Wednesday. Popularly known as ‘Goldspot’ Murthi, the 80-year-old was a sitting MLC and also a noted educationist who founded the GITAM University in Visakhapatnam.
Murthi died as the car he was travelling in collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction near Anchorage city. He was reported to be travelling from California to Alaska and was in the US to attend a grand alumni meet of GITAM University to be held on October 6.
Five people were reported to be in the vehicle out of which three of them lost their lives. The other two deceased have been identified as Basava Punnaiah and VBR Chowdary. Another occupant of the car, Kadiala Venkata Ratnam, is presently undergoing treatment.
The Telugu Association of North America (TANA) has taken note of the incident and is working with local authorities, in ensuring that the bodies of the victims are transported back to their native places.
Murthi was also considered close to the Nara family, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Murthi's grandson is also married to Nandamuri Balakrishna's younger daughter, Tejaswini.
According to GITAM's website, "Dr Mathukumilli Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Murthi, popularly known as MVVS Murthi, was born in an affluent agricultural family in Moolapolam village in the Konaseema area of Andhra's East Godavari District on July 3, 1938. After formal schooling at his native place, he moved on to Kakinada for higher studies and graduated in Economics from PR Government College. He obtained a Masters Degree in Politics & Public Administration, BL, and also PhD in Economics from Andhra University."
After a brief stint as an advocate in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, he established Visakha Bottling Company (VBC) in 1967. In 1980, he was elected as the President of the Andhra Pradesh chapter of Commerce and Industry.
The same year, he also started the Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM). After entering politics during the time of TDP founder NT Rama Rao, Murthi also served as the Chairman of Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) in the 1980s.
Murthi also served two tenures as an MP, once in 1991 and again in 1999 as a member of the Lok Sabha from Visakhapatnam. He later contested and won twice as an MLC.
Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh took to Twitter to condole Murthi’s death, saying, “The sudden demise of senior leader and MLC MVVS Murthy garu is a devastating loss to the party and family. An unwavering champion for education and employment creation, he touched many lives with his deep compassion and empathy. His was a life well-lived!”
The sudden demise of senior leader & MLC MVVS Murthy Garu is a devastating loss to the party and family. An unwavering champion for education & employment creation, he touched many lives with his deep compassion and empathy. His was a life well-lived!
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) October 3, 2018