H. D. Devegowda

H.D. Devegowda was born on May 18, 1933, in Haradanahalli village of Holenarasipura taluk, Hassan District, Karnataka. He served as the 11th Prime Minister of India and the 14th Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Gowda participated in the freedom struggle as a student leader. Before entering politics, he worked as a contractor, handling small projects. Known for his simple lifestyle and modest demeanour, he began his political journey at the age of 20, joining the Congress Party in 1953 after completing his education. He remained a member until 1962. Growing up in a middle-class farming family, he experienced firsthand the challenges faced by farmers and vowed to advocate for the rights of the underprivileged and oppressed sections of society.

Starting from humble beginnings in the democratic system, Gowda gradually climbed the political ladder. He made a mark on people's minds while serving as the President of the Anjaneya Co-operative Society and later as a member of the Taluk Development Board in Holenarasipura.

At the age of 28, Gowda ran as an Independent candidate and quickly gained popularity upon winning a seat in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 1962. Representing the Holenarasipur constituency, he secured seats in the Assembly for three consecutive terms: the Fourth (1967-71), the Fifth (1972-77), and the Sixth (1978-83) Assemblies. Renowned for his effective speaking skills in the Assembly, he earned admiration from both peers and seniors alike.

After his re-election in 1967, Gowda gained confidence in his political abilities. In 1969, amidst the split of the Congress party, he aligned with the Congress (O) led by Nijalingappa, which held power in Karnataka at the time. However, Gowda's major opportunity arose after the Congress (O) suffered a defeat in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections. He emerged as the leader of a reduced opposition, challenged by the strong influence of Indira Gandhi. His tenure as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, from March 1972 to March 1976 and again from November 1976 to December 1977, earned him praise and recognition. In 1975-76, during the period of emergency, Gowda incurred the displeasure of the central government and was imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency in 1976.

Gowda tendered his resignation from the Sixth Assembly on November 22, 1982. In the subsequent Seventh and Eighth Assemblies, he assumed the role of Minister of Public Works and Irrigation. During his tenure as Irrigation Minister, several irrigation projects were initiated. However, in 1987, he stepped down from his cabinet position in protest against what he perceived as inadequate funding for irrigation projects. In 1991, he was elected to Parliament from the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency. In this role, he played a key part in highlighting the issues faced by the state, particularly those concerning farmers.

Gowda held significant positions within the Janta Party, serving as its President at the state level twice. In 1994, he assumed the presidency of the State Janata Dal. He played a pivotal role in propelling the Janata Dal to power in the state during the same year. Following his election as the leader of the Janata Dal Legislative Party, Gowda officially became the 14th Chief Minister of Karnataka on December 11, 1994. Concurrently, he contested and won from the Ramanagar Assembly constituency with a substantial majority. On May 30, 1996, Deve Gowda resigned from his position as the Chief Minister of Karnataka to assume office as the 11th Prime Minister of India on behalf of the United Front coalition.

However, his time as Prime Minister was brief. In April 1997, the Congress (I) Party withdrew its support from the coalition government. They cited a lack of consultation from Gowda on important matters despite the government's dependency on Congress support. Consequently, on April 11, 1997, Gowda faced a vote of no confidence in the Lok Sabha and lost by a significant margin. Inder Kumar Gujral, the then Minister for External Affairs, was chosen as the new coalition leader.

Following this, Gowda was elected to the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) from 1996 to 1998. He then secured re-election to the Lok Sabha in 1998, 2002, 2004, 2009, and 2014. However, he lost his seat in the 2019 general elections. He was then re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2020.

Demonstrating his political savvy, Gowda addressed the contentious Idgah Maidan issue in Hubli. This ground, belonging to the minority community, had become embroiled in political controversy. Through adept negotiation, Gowda successfully facilitated a peaceful resolution to the matter.

In January 1995, Deve Gowda embarked on a tour of Switzerland, where he participated in the Forum of International Economists and during his visit to Singapore, he successfully attracted significant foreign investment to the state, showcasing his aptitude for business.

He was born into a Vokkaligas family to Dodde Gowda and Devamma. He takes pride in his humble agricultural upbringing. He is married to Chennamma, and the couple is blessed with four sons and two daughters. One of their sons, H. D. Kumaraswamy is a candidate for the 2024 general elections while their other son H.D. Revanna serves as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Karnataka.