H D Deve Gowda

Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda is a politician who served as the 11th Prime Minister of the country. He held the office from 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997. Prior to that, he served as the 14th Chief Minister of Karnataka during the period- 1994 to 1996. Currently, he is the member of Lok Sabha and represents Hassan constituency of Karnataka. He is also the present National President of the Janata Dal (Secular) party.

Early life

Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda was born on May 18th, 1933 in Haradanahalli village in Karnataka. He was born into Vokkaliga caste, which is considered an Other Backward Class by the government of India. He was born to mother Devamma and father Dodde Gowda, who was a farmer by profession. Talking about his education, he has a diploma from L. V. Polytechnic in civil engineering. He is married to Chennamma and has six children- 4 sons and 2 daughters.

Career

In 1953, Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda became part of the Indian National Congress party and continued with it until 1962. In 1962, Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve was elected as an independent candidate to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the Holenarasipura constituency. And then he kept on getting elected from the same constituency for 6 consecutive terms- 1962 to 1989.

In 1994, Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve became the president of Karnataka unit of Janata Dal and was considered as the main driving force for party’s victory in Assembly polls the same year. He got elected from the Ramanagara and became the 14th Chief Minister of the state in December. In 1995, he visited Switzerland and Singapore which helped in bringing foreign investment in Karnataka. In 1996, no party could win enough seats to form the government. Then the United Front, the conglomeration of non-BJP and non-Congress regional parties, decided to form the Central government. Then unexpectedly, Deve Gowda was chosen to head the government. He became the 11th Prime Minister of the country, serving from 1 June 1996 to 11 April 1997.

Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve has been elected to Lok Sabha several times. Currently, he represents Hassan constituency, Karnataka in the Lok Sabha.