Who is Basavaraj Somappa Bommai?

Basavaraj Somappa Bommai, born on January 28, 1960, in Hubballi, is the 23rd Chief Minister of Karnataka. The 61-year-old Lingayat leader, from North Karnataka, succeeded B S Yediyurappa and took the oath as the Karnataka CM on July 27, 2021.

 

A graduate in Mechanical Engineering, Basavaraj Bommai is the son of the former chief minister, late Somappa Rayappa Bommai. He is considered one of the close aides of Yediyurappa.

Basavaraj Bommai finished his primary education from Rotary English Medium School at Deshpande Nagar in Hubballi district, later he joined P C Jabina Science College and completed his mechanical engineering from B V Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology.

 

In the 1980s, Basavaraj Bommai worked at Tata Motors (formerly known as TELCO) in Pune for three years. Later, he established his own industry and became an entrepreneur. Gradually, Bommai showed keen interest to join politics.

 

Bommai began his political career with the Janata Dal (United), later, he resigned from the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2008. He was the Minister for Home Affairs, Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Legislature in Yediyurappa's council of ministers, and also the Minister-in-charge of Udupi and Haveri districts.

 

Between 2008 and 2013, Bommai served as the Minister for Water Resources and Cooperation. He looked after several portfolios including Irrigation, Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Legislature of Karnataka in Yediyurappa's fourth council of ministers.

 

Since 2008, he has been a three-time Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Shiggaon, and a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council between 1998 and 2008.

 

He is well-known for fighting for the Cauvery issue and contributing to several irrigation schemes in the state. The Sadara Lingayat community leader is also widely acclaimed for implementing the country's first 100 per cent piped irrigation project at his constituency Shiggaon in Haveri district.

 

When it comes to hobbies, Bommai likes to read, write, and play golf and cricket. He has also served as the Chairman of the Karnataka State Cricket Association in Dharwad district and Karnataka Volleyball Association in Dharwad district.

 

The Karnataka CM is also the founder of Arunodaya Co-operative Society, a member of Jayanagar Housing Society and the German Chamber of Commerce.