U T Abdul Khader Ali Fareed

Uppala T. Khader Fareed was born on 12 October 1969 in Uppala, Kasaragod district, Kerala, to former legislator U. T. Fareed and Naseema. He completed his BA and LLB degrees before entering public life and became active in student politics through the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), laying the foundation for his political career.

Khader rose through the ranks of the Congress party by serving in several youth and organizational positions. His grassroots work in Dakshina Kannada district helped him establish a strong political base in coastal Karnataka and emerge as one of the party's most recognizable leaders in the region.

He entered the Karnataka Legislative Assembly through the Ullal constituency and later represented the Mangalore constituency after delimitation. Over the years, he developed a reputation for maintaining consistent electoral success in a region where Congress has often faced strong competition.

During the Siddaramaiah government, Khader served as Minister for Health & Family Welfare from 2013 to 2016 and later as Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. In the Congress–JD(S) coalition government, he held the Urban Development and Housing portfolio, further strengthening his administrative credentials.

In May 2023, he was unanimously elected Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, becoming the first Muslim leader to hold the post. In June 2026, he joined the D. K. Shivakumar ministry and was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister on 3 June 2026 and was allocated the Health & Family Welfare portfolio.