Basavraj Bommai, son of former chief minister SR Bommai and a close confidant of BS Yediyurappa, has taken over as the new chief minister of Karnataka. Like his predecessor BS Yediyurappa, Bommai belongs to the Lingayat community -- a faith tradition dominant in the state. Settled largely in the north and central Karnataka, the Lingayat community constitutes over 20% of the state population. By making Basavraj Bommai thenew CM, BJP has tried to retain the votes of the Lingayat commmunity which was irted after the reports about BS Yediyurappa's imminent resignation started floating a few days ago. Here are 10 interesting facts about the new Chief Minister of Karnataka Basavarj Bommai:
1. Basavaraj Bommai was born on 28 January 1960 in Hubli, Karnataka into a political family. His father SR Bommai was the 11th Chief Minister of Karnataka. Bommai Jr is a graduate Mechanical Engineer from B.V. Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology and has worked for the Tata group as an engineer.
2. He is a 3-time member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. He was elected as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council, twice – first in 1998 and then in 2004 -- from Dharwad local authorities constituency.
3. He left the Janata Party (United) – a party in which SR Bommai played an active role – to join the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2008. BS Yediyurappa played an important role in facilitating this switch for Bommai.
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4. Bommai Jr, more like his father SR Bommai, is a politician with socialist foot stamps.
5. In the state elections of 2008, he was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the Shiggaon constituency in the Haveri district. He was considered as a close aide of the then Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa.
6. However, not everything was as great as it seemed between Yediyurappa and Bommai. Following the removal of BSY from the BJP in the late 2000s, he asked Bommai to join him in the new camp. But Bommai decided to stay loyal to BJP and declined Yediyurappa’s offer, drawing flak from the politicians.
7. Bommai broadened his political portfolio by first serving as the Minister for Water Resources under Chief Ministers B. S. Yediyurappa, where he did remarkable work. He is also credited with implementing India's first 100% piped irrigation project at Shiggaon in the Haveri district of Karnataka.
8. After this, he held more important ministerial offices such as Home Affairs, Law & Parliamentary Affairs and Cooperations minister.
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9. Close aides of Bommai have described him as a calm and astute politician who is willing to deliberate at great length to understand issues before making decisions, the Indian Express reported.
10. Bommai has been chosen as the 23rd Chief Minister of Karnataka and given his roots and ideology, it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.
