Coastal Karnataka rejoices DV's victory

Mangalore, August 3: A festive mood prevailed in the Bharatiya Janata Party dominated areas across coastal Karnataka soon after Udupi-Chikmagalur MP D V Sadananda Gowda was chosen the next Chief Minister of State.

In Mangalore BJP workers came out on the streets in large numbers distributing sweets and bursting crackers to celebrate DV's victory, who is expected to become the second Chief Minister from Coastal Karnataka after Congress leader M Veerappa Moily.

It can be mentioned that most of the BJP leaders of Coastal Karnataka including MP and MLA's had backed DV, when State BJP had split into two factions following the resignation of BS Yeddyurappa.

Congratulating the 26th Chief Minister of Karnataka, Dakshina Kannada District-in-charge Minister Krishna J Palemar said that DV has chosen as the leader of State BJP Legislature Party in a unique and democratic way of voting.

“Coastal district is proud of DV's victory. This victory has increased the respect of Dakshina Kannada district in the eyes of entire State,” Mr Palemar said.

However, he said that DV is not only confined to his home district or any faction, but, the leader of entire state.

MLA Yogish Bhat stated that election of Sadanada Gowda as new CM, has ended all internal problems of State BJP.

“Soon after the election, both Mr Gowda and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagaish Shettar embraced each other and pledged to work for the development of the state together keeping aside all the differences. This is an example to all,” he said.

Cong Congratulations!

Meanwhile Congress MLA from Mangalore Constituency U T Khader too has congratulated the election of a Dakshina Kannada based candidate as the new CM of State.

“This Coastal District has been neglected by the BJP led Karnataka government, since past three years. This is an opportunity for Sadanada Gowda to end the step motherly attitude of BJP government towards Dakshina Kannada and give justice to the people of his home district,” he said.

Sadananda Gowda's house located at Bendoorwell in Mangalore

After 17 years!

Sadananda Gowda will be the second chief minister from coastal Karnataka, after a gap of nearly 17 years.

The first chief minister from the area was M. Veerappa Moily, now corporate affairs minister in the central government.

Moily was chief minister between Nov 19, 1992, and Dec 11, 1994.

While Moily was minister for four times and leader of opposition in the state assembly between 1975 and 1992 before becoming chief minister, Gowda has no experience as minister.

Sullia Guy

DV who hails from Devaragunda family of Mandekolu village in Sullia Taluk was born on March 18, 1953 to Venkappa Gowda and Kamala couple.

He graduated in Science from the St. Philomena College, Puttur and then went on to obtain his degree in law at Udupi Vaikunta Baliga College of Law. He became active in student politics during this period and was elected as the General Secretary of the Students Union of the Law College. Subsequently, he became the District General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student's wing of the BJP.

In 1976, he started practicing law at both Sullia and Puttur. He was a public prosecutor for a brief period in Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district but resigned his job to concentrate on his political career.

He began his political career as a member of the erstwhile Jan Sangh, was President of the party's Sullia Assembly segment, Dakshina Kannada BJP Yuva Morcha President, Dakshina Kannada BJP Vice-President, State BJP Yuva Morcha Secretary (1983-88), State BJP Secretary (2003-04) and National Secretary of the party (2004).

Gowda was elected to the state Legislative Assembly in 1994 and 1999 from the Puttur Assembly seat in Dakshina Kannada. He became Deputy Leader of the Opposition in his second term as MLA. He has served in various committees of the State legislature including the Cell for preparing Draft Bill on prohibiting Atrocities on Women, Karnataka, the Committee of Energy, Fuel and Power, and the Committee for Public Undertaking. He was nominated as the President of the Public Accounts Committee in 2003.

He was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004 and reelected in 2009. As a Member of parliament, he is on the Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests. In the 14th Lok Sabha, he was a memeber of the Committee on Commerce.

He is married to Datty Sadananda and has a son. His other son, who was a medical student, died in a road accident.

With his wife Datty Sadananda