Four times in a row, but different party

Chamarajanagara, Karnataka, May 28 (UNI) Former Karnataka Minister H S Mahadev Prasad, who won a fourth term from Gundlupet in Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka, has earned the rare distinction of winning as a candidate of different political parties on each occasion.

Mr Prasad made his debut in the Assembly in 1994 as a Janata Dal nominee, emerging a giant killer trouncing former Speaker K S Nagarathnamma after losing twice to her in 1985 and 1989.

After the Janata Dal split, he associated with the Janata Dal (United), headed by former Chief Minister J H Patel, and won the 1999 elections on that party's symbol, despite the party receiving a severe drubbing.

Mr Prasad, a confidant of former Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash, switched over to the Janata Dal (Secular) of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and completed a hat trick of wins from Gundlupet in 2004 as a member of that party.

His emphatic victory earned him a Cabinet berth in the N Dharam Singh-led Congress-JD(S) coalition Government and became Minister for Food and Civil Supplies. Later, in the Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-BJP coalition Government, he held the portfolio of Kannada and Culture.

After the JD(S) pulled down the B S Yeddyurappa-led Government in November last year, he distanced himself from the Deve Gowda camp and joined the Congress along with Mr Prakash. Though his mentor lost in Harapanahalli in Davanagere district in the just-concluded election, Mr Prasad won from Gundlupet seat as the Congress candidate for the fourth time in a row with a margin of over 2,000 votes.

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