Bengaluru:

BJP chief V Somanna, who reluctantly and unsuccessfully contested towards Chief Minister Siddaramaiah within the Meeting polls a yr in the past, is now a part of the brand new union council of ministers, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It appears to be a candy flip of occasions for Somanna, who was reportedly sulking and there have been speculations about him allegedly planning to hitch the Congress, over being sidelined by the BJP, forward of 2023 Meeting elections. The veteran chief, nonetheless, had denied it.

He received the Tumkur Lok Sabha section by a margin of 1,75,594 votes, towards Congress’ S P Muddahanumegowda within the latest Lok Sabha polls.

The Lingayat chief, who began off as member Bruhat Bangaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in 1983-87, has grown politically steadily and has had his stint in all of the three key political events within the state — Janata Dal (erstwhile), Congress and BJP.

The 73-year-old had served as Housing Minister within the earlier BJP authorities within the state, and had unsuccessfully contested 2023 Meeting polls from Varuna, the house turf of Siddaramaiah, and in addition in Chamarajanagar towards C Puttarangashetty.

Somanna was a staunch follower of the outstanding and revered Lingayat pontiff of Siddaganga Math — late Shivakumara Swami — who was thought of “strolling god” by his devotees.

Somanna was born on July 20, 1951, to Veeranna and Kempamma in Doddamaralavadi of Ramanagar district.

He was elected as MLA from Binnypet right here on a Janata Dal ticket in 1994, and served as Minister for Prisons and Minister for Bangalore City Improvement from 1996-1999.

In 1999, he was once more elected from Binnypet as an unbiased. In 2004, he entered the Meeting for a 3rd time, this time on a Congress ticket, and shifted to Govindaraj Nagar section in 2008.

Nevertheless, he subsequently give up the seat and the occasion to hitch the BJP, and was rewarded with a ministership. However he needed to resign from the put up, as he confronted defeat within the by-poll to a Congress candidate.

From 2010-2018, he served because the Member of Karnataka Legislative Council.

Somanna was a member of the Karnataka Legislative Meeting from Govindraj Nagar, representing the BJP from Could 2018 to Could 2023.

When the BJP got here to energy, he served as Minister of Horticulture and Sericulture (2019-20) and as Minister for Housing and Minister for Infrastructure and Improvement (2021-23).

Somanna, who was sulking over allegedly being sidelined within the occasion affairs, was reportedly in a dilemma about whether or not to go away the BJP and be part of the Congress forward of the Legislative Meeting elections.

He was requested to shift from his Govindaraj Nagar section to contest from Varuna towards Siddaramaiah together with Chamarajanagar, however misplaced each seats.

Somanna, who had requested for Chamarajanagar seat, was reluctant to contest in Varuna initially. However he had gained confidence with the momentum of campaigning that noticed participation from high BJP leaders.

Somanna had later repeatedly expressed his displeasure and took a veiled dig towards the occasion veteran B S Yediyurappa and the occasion, when the BJP determined to nominate the latter’s son B Y Vijayendra as state president of the occasion.

He had publicly requested the occasion to contemplate him for the state president’s put up.

Somanna is married to Shailaja they usually have three youngsters.