UDUPI: Former Udupi MLA U R Sabhapathi (71) passed away on Sunday after suffering from a brief illness. He fell ill and breathed his last without responding to the treatment. He is survived by wife, daughter and two sons.
Sabhapathi was recognised as an influential leader in the coastal region in the 1980s-1990s. He was elected as MLA twice from Udupi Assembly constituency. He served as MLA from Karnataka Congress Party in 1994 and was elected as an MLA from Congress in 1999. He had also served as Youth Congress president from Dakshina Kannada-North.
Sabhapati was a follower of Bangarappa and was also inspired by late Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes to enter politics. He also identified himself with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Janata Dal-Secular.