H. D. Kumaraswamy

H. D. Kumaraswamy (born 16 December 1959) is an Indian politician who was the 18th Chief Minister of Karnataka, a state in southern India, from 2006 to 2007. His father is the former Prime Minister of India H. D. Deve Gowda. Popularly known as "KumarAnna" (Kumar, the name and "anna" in Kannada means "elder brother") among his friends and followers, was a noted film producer, distributor and exhibitor in the Kannada film industry. He is President of Karnataka State Janata Dal (Secular).

Early life and education

Kumaraswamy was born in Haradanahalli, Holenarasipura Taluk, Hassan District, Karnataka to H. D. Deve Gowda and Chennamma.

He finished his high school studies in Bangalore's MES Educational Institution in Jayanagar. He completed his PUC from Vijaya College and earned his B.Sc. from National College in Jayanagar, Bangalore. He married Anita on 13 March 1986, at Palace Grounds, Bangalore. Kumarswamy. He has a son, Nikhil Gowda with Anitha Kumaraswamy.

Film career

Though H.D. Kumaraswamy was the son of H. D. Deve Gowda, a politician in Karnataka and former Prime Minister of India, he was not interested in politics initially. He was very much into film-making and film distribution. He has produced several successful Kannada films. Among which, the film Chandra Chakori was a huge hit, credited with 365 days' run in theatres. He is a great fan of Kannada actor thespian Rajkumar, and that attracted him into the film industry. In an interview he has admitted that in his college days, he used to wear clothes which Rajkumar wore in the movies, especially similar pants.

Filmography

• Surya Vamsha (1999)
• Galate Aliyandru (2000)
• Chandra Chakori (2003)
• Jaguar (2016)

Political career

He entered politics by winning the Kanakapura (Bangalore Rural District) Lok Sabha seat in 1996. He sought re-election from Kanakapura in 1998 and lost. He again contested unsuccessfully for a Sathanur assembly seat in 1999. In 2004, he was elected to represent the Ramanagara assembly segment. When the 2004 state elections resulted in a hung assembly with no party getting enough seats to form a government, the Indian National Congress and Janata 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. He was sworn in as Chief Minister on 28 May 2004. Forty-two MLAs of Janata Dal (Secular) under Kumaraswamy's leadership left the coalition and the government collapsed. On 28 January 2006, Karnataka Governor T. N. Chaturvedi invited Kumaraswamy to form the government in the state after the resignation of the Congress Government led by Dharam Singh.

He was Chief 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 the Bharatiya 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. However, on 4 October 2007, he refused to transfer power to the BJP. Finally, on 8 October 2007, he tendered his resignation to Governor Rameshwar Thakur, and the state was put under President's rule two days later. However, he reconciled later and decided to offer support to the BJP. BJP's B. S. Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on 12 November 2007.

After the untimely demise of Karnataka state JD(S) President Merajuddin Patel, he was elected unopposed as President of the state unit.

However, after the by-election results of Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency and Mandya 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. However, party cadres succeeded in convincing him not to quit as leader of opposition in the Karnataka Assembly. In September 2013, A. Krishnappa was selected as Janata Dal-Secular's president for Karnataka, filling the vacancy left by Kumaraswamy.

In November 2014 Kumaraswamy was elected as Karnataka state Janata Dal (Secular) President.

Positions held

• 1996: Elected to 11th Lok Sabha
• 2004–08: Member, Karnataka Legislative Assembly
• Feb. 2006-Oct.2007: Chief Minister of Karnataka
• 2009: Re-elected to 15th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
• 31 August 2009: Member, Committee on Rural Development
• 15 October 2009: Member, Committee on Food Management in Parliament House Complex.
• 31 May 2013: Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

• "Dharam Singh chosen leader of CLP". The Times of India. 24 May 2004. 
• "Dharam Singh, Siddaramaiah sworn in". The Hindu. 29 May 2004. 
• "Kumaraswamy says he will quit on Oct. 3", PTI (The Hindu), 27 September 2007.
• M, Anil Kumar (17 October 2011). "October effect haunts BS Yeddyurappa". The Times of India. 
• "Karnataka under President Rule". Financial Express. 9 October 2007. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. 
• "Kumaraswamy elected JDS Legislature party leader". The Deccan Herald. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. 
• Satish, D. P. (24 August 2013). "Congress wins Karnataka by-polls by heavy margin". IBN Live. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. 
• Shankar, Vijay (24 August 2013). "Kumaraswamy resigns as assembly Oppn leader and JD(S) state prez". One India News. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. 
• "Kumaraswamy still Leader of Opposition in Assembly". The Hindu. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. 
• "A. Krishnappa elected State JD(S) president". The Hindu. 12 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. 
• ^ H D Deve Gowda announces son as party president of Karnataka unit - The Economic Times
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• "Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha): Detailed Profile: Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy". Government of India. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. 
• "Fifteenth Lok Sabha Members: Bioprofile". Lok Sabha. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009.