The main three political parties -the Congress, BJP and the JDS are in the fray. The BJP and JDS have announced the names of their Chief Ministerial candidates. The Congress is yet to declare the name of the final aspirant.
B S Yeddyurappa
B S Yeddyurappa, the first BJP politician to become the Chief Minister of a Southern state was born on February 27, 1943 in the Bookanakere village in Karnataka’s Mandya district. He began his career with the Veerabhadra Shastri Shankar rice mill as a small-time clerk. His debut entry into the political domain was after he was appointed as the secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh`s Shikaripur unit in 1970.
He is from the BJP and represents Shikaripur in the Karnataka legislative assembly. Yeddyurappa was first elected to the lower house of Karnataka Legislature in 1983. Since then he has represented the Shikaripur constituency five times. He has served as Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka on February 03, 2006 in the coalition government led by Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy. Yeddyurappa was appointed as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on November 12, 2007. He resigned on November 19, 2007, due to Janata Dal (Secular)`s refusal to support his government.
H D Kumaraswamy
H D Kumaraswamy, who was the Chief Minister from Feb 4, 2006 to Oct 9, 2007 was born on December 19, 1959 and finished his high school studies in Bangalore`s MES Educational Institution in Jayanagar. He completed his PUC from Vijaya College and his B.Sc. from Basavanagudi National College. Kumaraswamy had a knack for producing movies, some of which turned out to be box office hits. Despite the lack of political experience, he won the Kanakapura Lok Sabha seat in 1996. But he lost the same seat in 1998. Then he lost the Sathanur Assembly seat in 1999 as well. He won the 2004 assembly polls from Ramanagaram. His party refused to transfer power to coalition partner BJP as a part of a power-sharing deal leading to the government’s downfall and the call for fresh elections. H D Kumaraswamy will be fighting the 2008 assembly polls on a JDS ticket from the Ramanagra constituency.
Dharam Singh
Dharam Singh, who earned laurels for attaining poll victory 8 times consecutively from Jewargi Assembly constituency, was born on December 25, 1936 in Nelogi village of Jewargi taluk in the Gulbarga district. Dharam Singh is a product of Hyderabad’s Osmania University and was a practicing advocate before joining politics. His career began as an independent corporator in Gulbarga City Municipal Council. Singh was the state Chief Minister from 28th May 2004 to 28th January 2006. The Congress may project him as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2008 assembly polls.
Mallikarjuna Kharge
Mallikarjuna Kharge, the member of 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th state assembly,
was born on 27th July, 1942 in the Varahatty village of Bhalki Taluk.
He was an advocate and social worker before entering politics. In 1999, he served as the Minister of State for Home in the S M Krishna-led government.
He may be the Congress’ Chief Ministerial candidate from the Gurumitkal constituency.
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