H. D. Kumaraswamy | |
|---|---|
 Kumaraswamy in 2024 | |
| 21stUnion Minister of Heavy Industries | |
| Assumed office 10 June 2024 (2024-06-10) | |
| President | Droupadi Murmu |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Mahendra Nath Pandey |
| 35thUnion Minister of Steel | |
| Assumed office 10 June 2024 (2024-06-10) | |
| President | Droupadi Murmu |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Jyotiraditya Scindia |
| 18thChief Minister of Karnataka | |
| In office 23 May 2018 – 23 July 2019 | |
| Deputy | G. Parameshwara |
| Preceded by | B. S. Yediyurappa |
| Succeeded by | B. S. Yediyurappa |
| In office 3 February 2006 – 9 October 2007 | |
| Deputy | B. S. Yediyurappa |
| Preceded by | Dharam Singh |
| Succeeded by | President's rule |
| 19thLeader of the Opposition inKarnataka Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 31 May 2013 – 22 January 2014 | |
| Chief Minister | Siddaramaiah |
| Preceded by | Siddaramaiah |
| Succeeded by | Jagadish Shettar |
| Member ofKarnataka Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 16 May 2018 – 4 June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | C. P. Yogeeshwara |
| Constituency | Channapatna |
| In office 2013–2018 | |
| Preceded by | K. Raju |
| Succeeded by | Anitha Kumaraswamy |
| Constituency | Ramanagara |
| In office 2004–2009 | |
| Preceded by | C. M. Lingappa |
| Succeeded by | K. Raju |
| Constituency | Ramanagara |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 4 June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Sumalatha |
| Constituency | Mandya, Karnataka |
| In office 2009–2013 | |
| Preceded by | Tejashwini Gowda(asMP forKanakapura) |
| Succeeded by | D. K. Suresh |
| Constituency | Bangalore Rural, Karnataka |
| In office 1996–1998 | |
| Preceded by | M. V. Chandrashekara Murthy |
| Succeeded by | M. Srinivas |
| Constituency | Kanakapura, Karnataka |
| President ofJanata Dal (Secular), Karnataka | |
| Assumed office 20 October 2023 | |
| In office 2014–2018 | |
| In office 2008–2013 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Haradanahalli Deve Gowda Kumaraswamy (1959-12-16)16 December 1959 (age 66) Haradanahalli,Mysore State, India |
| Party | Janata Dal (Secular) |
| Other political affiliations | Janata Dal |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2, includingNikhil Kumar |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | H. D. Revanna (brother) Prajwal Revanna (nephew) |
| Residence |
|
| Alma mater | B.Sc., National College Basavanagudi,Bangalore |
| Profession | |
| Signature |  |
| Nickname(s) | HDK, Kumaranna |
| Source:[1] | |
Haradanahalli Devegowda Kumaraswamy (born 16 December 1959) is an Indian politician and film producer who is serving as the 21stMinister of Heavy Industries and 14thMinister of Steel of India since 2024. He also served as the 18thChief Minister of Karnataka from 2018 to 2019 and previously from 2006 to 2007. He was also the leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from 2013 to 2014. He is currently the president of the Karnataka StateJanata Dal (Secular). He is a member of Lok Sabha, having been elected fromMandya and the former member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Channapatna from 2018 to 2024, Ramanagara from 2004 to 2009 and from 2013 to 2018. He is the son of formerChief Minister of Karnataka &Prime Minister of IndiaH. D. Deve Gowda.[2]
Kumaraswamy was born inHaradanahalli,Holenarasipura taluk ofHassan district, Karnataka toH. D. Deve Gowda and Chennamma.[3]
He completed primary education in a government school inHassan district. He finished his high school studies inBangalore's MES Educational Institution inJayanagar and Bachelor of Science degree from National College Basavanagudi, Bangalore.[4]
On 13 March 1985, Kumaraswamy marriedAnitha Kumaraswamy. They have a son,Nikhil Gowda.
In November 2010, Radhika revealed that she was married to Kumaraswamy and that they have a daughter named Shamika.[5] They separated in 2015.[1]
Kumaraswamy entered politics by winning fromKanakapura (inRamanagara District) in the1996 general elections. He sought re-election from Kanakapura in 1998 and lost toM. V. Chandrashekara Murthy. This was Kumaraswamy's worst defeat ever where he lost by such a margin that he even forfeited his deposit.[6]
He again contested unsuccessfully for aSathanur assembly seat in 1999 when he was defeated by congress heavyweightD. K. Shivakumar. In 2004, he was elected to represent theRamanagara assembly segment. When the 2004 state elections resulted in a hung assembly with no party getting enough seats to form a government, theIndian National Congress andJanata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) parties decided to come together and form a coalition government. Known for his adaptability and friendly nature,Dharam Singh of the Congress was the unanimous choice of both parties to head the government.[7] He was sworn in aschief minister on 28 May 2004.[8] Forty-twoMLAs of Janata Dal (Secular) under Kumaraswamy's leadership left the coalition and the government collapsed. On 28 January 2006, Karnataka GovernorT. N. Chaturvedi invited Kumaraswamy to form the government in the state after the resignation of the Congress Government led by Dharam Singh.
He wasChief Minister of Karnataka from 4 February 2006 to 9 October 2007.On 27 September 2007, Kumaraswamy said that he would leave office on 3 October as part of a power-sharing agreement between the Janata Dal (Secular) and theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite the calls of some legislators in the JD(S) for him to remain in office for the time being, due to complications in arranging the transfer of power.[9] However, on 4 October 2007, he refused to transfer power to the BJP.[10] Finally, on 8 October 2007, he tendered his resignation to Governor, and the state was put under President's rule two days later.[11] However, he reconciled later and decided to offer support to the BJP. BJP'sB. S. Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on 12 November 2007.But, again refused to support BJP government over a disagreement on sharing of ministries which resulted in Yeddyurappa resignation as Chief Minister on 19 November 2007.[12]
After the untimely demise of Karnataka state JD(S) President Merajuddin Patel, he was elected unopposed as President of the state unit.[13]
However, after the by-election results ofBangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency andMandya[14] in which his party candidates lost, he resigned from the post of President of the Janata Dal (Secular) State unit, and as leader of the opposition.[citation needed]
However, party cadres succeeded in convincing him not to quit as leader of opposition in the Karnataka Assembly.[15] In September 2013, A. Krishnappa was selected asJanata Dal-Secular's president for Karnataka, filling the vacancy left by Kumaraswamy.[16]
In November 2014 Kumaraswamy was elected as Karnataka state Janata Dal (Secular) President.[17][2] Kumaraswamy is also known for accusing political rivals ofcorruption.[18][19][20]
In2018 elections in Karnataka state, JD(S) was the third-largest party but after a post-poll alliance with theRahul Gandhi led Indian National Congress, he was sworn in as the Chief Minister on 23 May 2018.[21]
In the 2019 parliament elections, his sonNikhil Gowda contested in theMandya (Lok Sabha constituency) against an independent candidateSumalatha, wife of film actor LateAmbareesh.[22] Kumaraswamy took this contest as a prestige[23] and campaigned all across the constituency. In vain his son lost the election by a margin of 1,30,000 odd votes.[24] This was a major setback and abashment to Kumaraswamy in his political career. He also shed tears in a party convention inMandya, recalling the election loss faced by his son.[25]
On the month of July 2019, his government lost its majority when 13 MLAs of Congress and 3 MLAs of his own party resigned to their MLA Posts.BSP MLA Mahesh N & 2 Independent MLAs withdrew their support for H.D.Kumaraswamy led coalition Government in Karnataka. On 23 July Kumaraswamy lost his majority in Karnataka floor test.Kumaraswamy resigned to the Chief Minister post, by submitting his resignation letter to governorVajubhai Vala on 23 July 2019. Then BJP was invited to form the government as the single largest party, by the governor andB. S.Yediyurappa took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka by succeeding him.
In the2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections, he won fromChannapatna against BJP'sC. P. Yogeshwar by a margin of 20,000 votes, while his sonNikhil lost in his previous constituency,Ramanagara to the Congress candidate. His partyJD(S) managed to win 19 seats of the contested 204 seats in the same elections.[26][27]
| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Member,11th Lok Sabha (Kanakapura) |
| 2004–08 | Member,Karnataka Legislative Assembly Chief Minister of Karnataka (3 February 2006 – 9 October 2007) |
| 2009-13 | Member,15th Lok Sabha
|
| 2013–24 | Member,Karnataka Legislative Assembly |
| 2018 – 19 | Member,Karnataka Legislative Assembly Chief Minister of Karnataka (23 May 2018 – 23 July 2019) |
| 2024–present | Member,18th Lok Sabha (Mandya) |
| Year | Constituency | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Votes | % | Result | Margin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Kanakapura | JD | 440,444 | 42.11 | INC | M. V. Chandrasekhara Murthy | 333,040 | 31.84 | Won | 107,404 | ||
| 1998 | 260,859 | 21.63 | BJP | M. Srinivas | 470,387 | 39.00 | Lost | —209,528 | ||||
| 1999 | JD(S) | 162,448 | 13.17 | INC | M. V. Chandrasekhara Murthy | 532,910 | 43.19 | Lost | —370,462 | |||
| 2009 | Bangalore Rural | 493,302 | 44.73 | BJP | C. P. Yogeeshwara | 363,027 | 32.92 | Won | 130,275 | |||
| 2014 | Chikballapur | 346,339 | 27.40 | INC | M. Veerappa Moily | 424,800 | 33.61 | Lost | —78,461 | |||
| 2024 | Mandya | 851,881 | 58.34 | Venkataramane Gowda | 567,261 | 38.85 | Won | 284,620 | ||||
| Year | Constituency | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Opponent Party | Opponent Votes | % | Result | Margin | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Channapatna | JD(S) | 96,592 | 48.83 | C. P. Yogeshwara | BJP | 80,677 | 40.79 | Won | 15,915 | 8.04 | ||
| 2018 | 87,995 | 46.55 | 66,465 | 35.16 | Won | 21,530 | 11.39 | ||||||
| Ramanagara | 92,626 | 53.96 | H. A. Iqbal Hussain | INC | 69,990 | 40.77 | Won | 22,636 | 13.19 | ||||
| 2013 | 83,238 | 56.12 | Maridevaru | 58,049 | 39.04 | Won | 25,189 | 17.08 | |||||
| 2008 | 71,633 | 56.09 | M. Rudresha | BJP | 24,428 | 19.12 | Won | 47,205 | 36.97 | ||||
| 2004 | 69,554 | 54.14 | Lingappa C. M. | INC | 44,638 | 34.75 | Won | 24,916 | 19.39 | ||||
| 1999 | Sathanur | 41,663 | 40.61 | D. K. Shivakumar | 56,050 | 54.64 | Lost | —14,387 | -14.03 | ||||
Kumaraswamy is into film production and distribution. He has produced several Kannada films includingChandra Chakori, a huge hit, credited with 365 day-run in theaters.[30]Surya Vamsha which was directed byS. Narayan was the debut movie produced by Kumaraswamy under Chennambika films, named after his mother. In 2016 his banner also produced his son's debut movieJaguar (2016 film) and his 2nd movieSeetharama Kalyana in 2019.
In September 2007, Kumaraswamy started the Kannada television channelKasturi. The channel is now owned and managed by his wife Anitha.
Kumaraswamy was accused ofbigamy which is illegal according to Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 of India. Apublic interest litigation was filed after media reports of his marriage toKannada cinema actressRadhika Kumaraswamy surfaced. Since Kumaraswamy is married to his first wife Anitha, his second marriage with Radhika is a violation of law.[31] However a division bench ofKarnataka High Court headed by Chief JusticeVikramajit Sen dismissed the case citing "lack of proof".[32]
Kumaraswamy and his wife Anitha are facing charges in the Janthakal mining scam. He is accused of pressuring a senior bureaucrat to renew Janthakal Enterprise's lease of iron ore mining for 40 years on the basis of forged documents and violating several rules. The bureaucrat, Ganga Ram Baderiya, was allegedly given kickbacks by Janthakal Enterprise. The owner of Janthakal Enterprises, mining baron Vinod Goel, was arrested in 2015 on charges of forgery. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing this scam on the direction ofSupreme Court of India.[33][34][35]
Kumaraswamy and his wife Anitha are accused of misuse of official position in allotment of 80 acres of land to Vishwabharati House Building Cooperative Society Ltd, a private cooperative society, which later made a quid pro quo site allotment to Anitha, during Kumaraswamy's tenure as Chief Minister in 2006.[36][35]
Kumaraswamy called for a press meet and released a CD containing 35 video clips of the violence during the Mangalore protests against the CAA.[37] The video presented the policemen acting violently against the protesters and beating up the civilians of the city, leading to riots in the city. He accused that the police directly followed the government orders inhumanly and were the main reason for the shoot out that killed 2 people during the protests.[38]
The BJP in return accused that these video clips are all edited versions of older footages of some other circumstances.[39] They also said that Kumaraswamy is misleading the people by producing inappropriate footages in public that provokes confusion and violence among the people.[40] The BJP included saying that Kumaraswamy, being a senior politician in the state is directly accusing the government officials and the police, which is unacceptable.[41]
In February 2023, Kumarswamy said that a secret meet of RSS in Delhi, has decide to make a Brahmin,Pralhad Joshi, the next chief minister of Karnataka. This led to vast opposition from the BJP and also the Brahmin's Mahasabha, asking for an apology for these statements.[42]
In November 2023, Kumaraswamy was accused of stealing electricity fromBESCOM to light his home in J P Nagar, Bengaluru duringDeepavali festival.[43][44] Kumaraswamy was fined ₹ 68,526 for stealing electric power.[45] Kumaraswamy was also booked under Section 135 of Indian Electricity Act.[46]
| Lok Sabha | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forKanakapura 1996–1998 | Succeeded by |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament forBangalore Rural 2009–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Karnataka Legislative Assembly | ||
| Preceded by K. Raju | Member of the Legislative Assembly forRamanagara 2004–2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by C. M. Lingappa | Member of the Legislative Assembly for Ramanagara 2013–2018 | Succeeded by K. Raju |
| Preceded by | Member of the Legislative Assembly forChannapatna 2018–present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chief Minister of Karnataka 2006–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Leader of the Opposition of Karnataka 2013–2014 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Minister of Karnataka 2018–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Mysore | |
|---|---|
| Karnataka | 11Urs I 12Urs II13Rao14Hegde I15Hegde II16Hegde III17S. R. Bommai18Patil II19Bangarappa20Moily21Deve Gowda22Patel23Krishna24Singh25Kumaraswamy I26Yediyurappa I27Yediyurappa II28Sadananda Gowda29Shettar30Siddaramaiah I31Yediyurappa III32Kumaraswamy II33Yediyurappa IV34Basavaraj Bommai 35Siddaramaiah II |
| Kodagu | |
