Basavaraj Bommai joined the BJP in 2008, but his family’s political history did not come full circle until today when his name was revealed as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka. In the 1980s, his father, SR Bommai, held the office for a brief time and made a significant impact on Indian politics.
He follows BS Yediyurappa, 78, who announced his resignation on Monday, ending weeks of uncertainty.
The BJP veteran is regarded as the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community in Karnataka’s Veerashaiva-Lingayat group, which accounts for 16% of the state’s 68 million people. His resignation was a dangerous move for the BJP, since the party had previously enjoyed significant support from this constituency.
While no one can claim that selecting Mr Bommai as a replacement was simple, the decision may be justified.
Although the term ‘Basava’ also means ox in Kannada, it clearly echoes the name of Basaveshwara, the 12th-century founder of the sect, the Karnataka Home Minister, an MLA from central Karnataka’s Haveri district, is also a Lingayat.
He was a member of the Janata Dal-United until defecting to the BJP, along with 22 other JDU officials.
Ironic, given that his socialist father, a leader of the Janata Party and then the Janata Dal, is best known for a historic Supreme Court case, SR Bommai against Union of India, which he fought after losing his Karnataka government due to defections. The decision in the case established certain rules to prevent the central government from abusing Article 356 of the constitution to impose President’s Rule on states with unfriendly governments.
Basavaraj Bommai, on the other hand, has remained a close confidant of Mr. Yediyurappa and has climbed through the ranks of the party to last lead the state’s Home Ministry. He is a mechanical engineer who began his career at Tata Sons and has previously held the water resources portfolio.
Mr. Bommai is a permanent resident of the Dharwad district and is married to Ms. Chennamma. He has a son and a daughter.
Reading, writing, golfing, and cricket are some of his hobbies.
