D. H. Shankaramurthy

D. H. Shankaramurthy (born 30 April 1940) is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka, India. He has been Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council since 2010.[1]

D. H. Shankaramurthy
Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council
In office
5 July 2010 – 21 June 2018
Minister of Higher Education,
Government of Karnataka
In office
February 2006 – October 2007
Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council
In office
1988 – 21 June 2018
Chairman, Karnataka Milk Federation
In office
1984
Personal details
Born (1940-04-30) 30 April 1940
Shimoga, Kingdom of Mysore
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)Sathyavati
Children2
OccupationPolitician

Biography

Shankaramurthy was born on 30 April 1940 at Shimoga in a high class Arya Vysya family of Hanumanthappa and Kamakshamma. He graduated in Science from Bangalore University. He married Sathyavati and the couple have two sons, Kiran and Arun. His younger son Arun is presently the general secretary of Shimoga District BJP and also has been nominated as Chairman of Karnataka AryaVysya Development Corporation with Minister of State rank.

He is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Nationalist Social Organization since 1966. Later, he joined the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh and also, served as District General Secretary and State General Secretary of the party. He is an active member of the Dakshin Hindi Prachar Sabha and a strong votary on making Hindi the sole National Language. He has vociferously championed for the spread and influence of Hindi in southern India. He actively participated in "Bangla Sathyagraha" and underwent imprisonment in ‘Tihar Jail’ and a protegee of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During the Emergency, he was detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act for 19 months in the prison at Belgaum. In 1980 he became the first state General Secretary of the BJP. He unsuccessfully contested the 1978 state elections and the 1980 general elections from Shimoga.[2]

He was the Chairman of the Karnataka Milk Federation in 1984 and rendered yeomen service for the promotion of Milk and other dairy products.

For the first time he was elected as Member of Karnataka Legislative Council from the South West Graduates Constituency in 1988. Since then, he has been continuously elected for four more terms in 1994, 2000, 2006 and 2012.[3]

He was the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council from 2002 to 2006.[4] During this period, he discharged his responsibilities in a highly disciplined manner and upheld the prestige of the House.[5]

In February 2006, he became a Cabinet Minister in the BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government[6] and handled the prestigious Higher Education portfolio. He was instrumental in approving and starting of 184 Degree Colleges and thus bringing about a radical change in the educational infrastructure in the State and also, streamlined the Higher Education department to make it competitive and effective.

Following the victory of the BJP in Karnataka in May 2008, he was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board (an Apex Advisory body of the Government).[7] He oversaw the creation of a document called "Karnataka Vision - 2020" which gave a new direction to the all-round development of the State. Under his guidance, the SPB was restructured with more powers and responsibilities along the lines of the Planning Commission of India.

He was unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council on 5 July 2010.[8] He is hailed across party lines for his honesty, integrity and intellect and is one of the most respected leaders in the State.

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References
  1. "Chairman Karnataka Legislative Council". NIC. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  2. "Election Analysis". ECI. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. "Council election results a mark of Shankaramurthy's popularity". The Hindu. 20 June 2006. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  4. "Shankara Murthy is Oppn. Leader in Council". The Hindu. 9 July 2002.
  5. "Shankaramurthy holds Govt. responsible for rice scam". The Hindu. 22 June 2004. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  6. "Eshwarappa, Horatti among 20 ministers sworn in". The Hindu. 18 February 2006. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  7. "Cabinet rank post for Shankaramurthy". The Hindu. 10 June 2008. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  8. "Shankaramurthy elected Council Chairman". The Hindu. 6 July 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
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