D. B. Chandre Gowda

D.B. Chandre Gowda (born 1936), is a former Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly, three-term MLA, one-term MLC, and Member of Parliament—three-term from Lok Sabha and one-term from Rajya sabha.
He worked as Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs in Government of Karnataka representing several political parties in his long political career – Praja Socialist Party, Janata Dal, Congress, and Bharatiya Janata Party.

He was born at Daradahalli of Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka on 26 August 1936 to D. A. Byre Gowda and Puttamma. He did his BSc education from Renukacharya College, Bangalore and LLB from R. L. Law College, Belgaum. He married Purna Chandre Gowda on 22 May 1966 and were blessed with four daughters.

He learnt his leadership skills paving the way for a long political career during his college days; he was elected as Vice-president of Renukacharya college students association. While at R. L. Law College, he became the General secretary of the R.L. Law College. He was in the Praja Socialist Party till 1967. In 1971, he got elected to 5th Lok Sabha from Chikmagalur constituency representing INC – Congress party. He was re-elected to 6th Lok Sabha from Chikmagalur, but vacated his seat later to allow Indira Gandhi to contest and win the election from there.

Between 1978 and 1983, he became a member of Karnataka Legislative Council and worked as Cabinet minister in Government of Karnataka from 1979 to 1980. In 1980, he resigned Congress and joined Karnataka Kranti Ranga, became President of Karnataka State Congress (U), and served as Leader of opposition in Karnataka Legislative Council from 1980 to 1981.

He entered into Karnataka Legislative Assembly as M.L.A in 1983 representing Thirthahalli constituency and served as Speaker in Legislative Assembly from 1983 to 1985. In 1986, he was elected as Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha representing Janata Dal political party. In 1989, he was re-elected as M.L.A from Thirthahalli constituency and became the Leader of opposition. In 1999, he was elected third-term as M.L.A representing Shringeri constituency and became Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs until 2004.

In 2008, he resigned Congress and joined BJP; subsequently, he came Member of Parliament in 15th Lok Sabha representing Bangalore North from BJP in 2009. In 2011, he also entered Silver screen by acting Kannada film Nanna Gopala, produced and directed by writer "Lakshman".

He is currently a member of—Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice; Committee on Subordinate Legislation; and Committee on members of parliament Local Area Development Scheme from 2009.

An autobiography of D.B. Chandre Gowda with name Poornachandra was released on occasion of his 75th birthday by B. S. Yeddyurappa, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, and D. V. Sadananda Gowda, current Chief Minister of Karnataka. Speaking on the occasion B. S. Yeddyurappa said:

D. V. Sadananda Gowda calling him as his friend, philosopher, and guide said: