Lakshmi Hebbalkar

Belagavi,​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Karnataka, was the place where Lakshmi Ravindra Hebbalkar made her first appearance in this world on 28 May 1975. She did her higher studies at Mysore University, and later she became a member of the Indian National Congress political organisation. Her inception in the political arena was all about Belagavi region party building and getting people to participate in the political process.

She became a local leader within the Congress party after she was elected the President of Women's Congress in Karnataka Pradesh in 2015. The organisational post gave her the platform and power to interact with people and all party workers before the elections.

She was successful in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly election of 2018, and so, she became the MLA of Belagavi Rural Assembly constituency. The legislative period of 2018 to 2023 was a kind of awakening time for her when she, in fact, showed her potential as a good legislator and party organiser, especially in the northern part of Karnataka.

In the year 2023, she managed to defend her seat in the legislature from Belagavi Rural, toppling the Congress rival one more time in the state general election. Later in the year, she was brought into the Cabinet of Karnataka and given the portfolio of Women and Child Development and Disabled and Senior Citizens Empowerment Minister, the areas relating to welfare, gender equity, and support systems for the vulnerable populations, which she took charge of.

In private, she is the wife of Ravindra Hebbalkar, and together they are blessed with a son. Mrinal Hebbalkar is their son's name. 2025 finds Lakshmi Hebbalkar still holding office as a Cabinet Minister and sitting MLA, actively working in the areas of governance, legislative duties, and party leadership in ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌Karnataka.