Sadananda Gowda: An affable loyalist

Bangalore, Aug 3 (IBNS) Sadananda Gowda, the man who finally became the heir to the political legacy of scam-tainted B S Yeddyurappa in Karnataka, is a disciplined politician with a soft and clean image who is blessed by BJP's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

When the 58-year-old Gowda was chosen after a secret ballot of the BJP legislators in Karnataka on Wednesday as the next chief minister, who might be remote-controlled by the deposed B S Yeddyurappa, there was not many controversy owing to the affable manner of the MP from Udupi Chikmagalur.

Yeddyurappa camp predictably broke out in celebrations after the name of two-time MP Gowda was announced.

"I thank the entire legislature for reposing confidence in me and electing me as the new leader of the legislators," Gowda said after his election.

"I would try to give good governance and a people-friendly pro-development government," said Gowda who got about 68 votes while his challenger Jagadish Shettar garnered above 50 as well.

Interestingly, Gowda was never a minister at any level.

Born in 1953, D. V. Sadananda Gowda hails from the Devaragunda family of Mandekolu Village of Sullia Taluk. He is a Vokkaliga community member and not a Lingayat , from which his political mentor Yeddyurappa belongs.

D. V. had his earlier education at Keyyur of Puttur Taluk and also in Sullia. He graduated in Science from St. Philomena College, Puttur and then went on to attain his degree in law at Udupi Vaikunta Baliga College of law.

During this period he was elected as the General Secretary of the Students Union of the Law College. More over he was very active as the District General Secretary of ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad), the student wing of the BJP.

In 1976, he started practising law at both Sullia and Puttur. He had a brief stint as a Public Prosecutor at Shirsi, U.K Dist.

In 1981, he married Smt.Datty and the couple had a son, Karthik.

D.V. was associated with the Co-operative and labour movements for long.

He was the General Secretary of Bharathiya Majdur Sangha of Puttur Division and a
President of Sullia Taluk´s Auto Ricksha Drivers and Owners Union.

Gowda started his political career as an ordinary member of erstwhile Janasangha and worked as the President of BJP, Sullia Constituency; President of BJP Yuva Morcha, D. K Dist.; Vice President of BJP, D.K Dist and as State Secretary of BJP Yuva Morcha from 1983 to 1988.

He was the State Secretary of Karnataka BJP in 2003-2004.

He conntested as an assembly election candidate since 1989 and got elected as MLA first in 1994. Again he retained his seat in 1999. During his second stint he became the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. During his tenure as MLA fie held different positions.

Gowda got elected as Member of Parliament in 2004 for the first time and won again in 2009. He also was identified as the national leader when he was made a National Secretary of BJP.

He was given the responsibility to manage the party matters relating to Goa.

He was also appointed as Director of Coffee Board during January 2005.

The BJP made him the State President for Karnataka State during March 2006. His work in bringing unity in the party also saw another term in the post when he was re-elected in 2007.

Gowda is interested in Yakshagana, an art form enacting the Hindu mythological stories popular in coastal Karnataka, and also in Shuttle Badminton and Tennis.