Sadananda Gowda

DV Sadananda Gowda is a member of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and represents the Udupi Chikmagalur constituency in Karnataka. A former state unit chief, Gowda hails from the Devaragunda family of Mandekolu Village of Sullia Taluk. He married his college-mate Datty in 1981 and the couple have a son named Karthik.Back in June 2007, the 58-year-old Lok Sabha member was one of key players in BJP forming their first government in the state.A Science graduate from St Philomena College, Puttur, Gowda also attained his degree in law from the Udupi Vaikunta Baliga College. In 1976, he started practicing law at both Sullia and Puttur.[caption id="attachment_53422" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="Sadananda Gowda, Yeddyurappa's candidate, was elected the new Karnataka CM through secret ballot. Screengrab from ibnlive"][/caption]Gowda was elected to the Karnataka Assembly twice, in 1994 and 1999, serving as a member of various committees. He also served as the Deputy leader of Opposition in his secondtenure as MLA.A former BJP National Secretary, Gowda was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha in 2009.On 3 August 2011, Gowda suceeded BS Yeddyurappa as the 25th chief minister of Karnataka. Gowda, Yeddyurappa's candidate, was elected through secret ballot.Gowda beat Jagadish Shettar, who was propped up by the rival camp led by BJP National General Secretary HN Ananth Kumar, in a straight contest after the party's central leaders failed to reach a consensus on the successor issue.Ananth Kumar and state unit party president KS Eswarappa had opposed Gowda's nomination on the ground that Yeddyurappa was trying to rule by proxy.The election brought out the sharp division in BJP's state unit with Yeddyurappa aggressively pushing for Gowda's candidature after being asked to step down as chief minister following his indictment in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.The election of Gowda, who is not a member of either House of the Legislature, has clearly demonstrated the hold Yeddyurappa has over legislators and his command over the party in the state.The close proximity and confidence he enjoys with Yeddyurappa has turned out to be a windfall for Gowda, affectionately called 'DVS' in BJP circles.Gowda has a keen interest in Yakshagana and Folk Arts of Dakshina Kannada. The new Karnataka CM is also a sports buff who plays badminton and tennis.