Karnataka New CM: All About Basavaraj Bommai, Set To Step Into Father's Shoes At 11 AM Today

A prominent Lingayat community leader in Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai was appointed for the top post during a Legislature Party meet in Bengaluru chaired by the central leadership on Tuesday.

Basavaraj Bommai (Image: PTI)

Bengaluru: Senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai has been elected the next Chief Minister of Karnataka, and he will replace BS Yediyurappa as the 20th Chief Minister of the state.

A prominent Lingayat community leader in Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai was appointed for the top post during a Legislature Party meet in Bengaluru chaired by the central leadership on Tuesday, in presence of outgoing CM B.S. Yeddyurappa. Karnataka BJP observer and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced Basavaraj S. Bommai to be the next Chief Minister.

Following his appointment, Bommai told media, "It is a big responsibility in the given situation. I will strive to work for the welfare of the poor. It will be pro-people and pro-poor people governance. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has invited me to form the government. I will take oath at 11 am on July 28."

All About Basavaraj Bommai - Son Of Former Karnataka CM, S.R. Bommai

Though Basavaraj joined the BJP in 2008, his family's political history dates back to 1980's. 61-year-old Basavaraj Bommai is the son of former Karnataka Chief Minister S.R. Bommai, who held the position for a brief period in the 1980s, making a whole lot of difference to Indian politics.

Born on 28 January 1960 in Hubballi, Basavaraj comes from the Sadar Lingayat community. He studied Mechanical Engineering and worked at Tata Motors in Pune for three years, then became an entrepreneur and later joined politics.

Talking about the family, Bommai is married to Chennamma and has a son and a daughter.

From Janata Dal To BJP - Basavaraj's Political Journey

Basavaraj had joined BJP in the year 2008 and since then there was no looking back. Basavaraj Bommai, is a two-time MLC and three-time MLA from Shiggaon in central Karnataka's Haveri district. He has also been the leader of BJP Legislature Party in Karnataka.

He started his political journey with Janata Dal and was a member of Karnataka Legislative Council twice (1997 and 2003). He was also the Political Secretary to Chief Minister JH Patel and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Council.

Bommai left the Janata Dal (United) and joined the BJP in February 2008 and was elected MLA from Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district in the assembly elections held in the same year. After this, he was elected from this seat in the 2013 and 2018 assembly elections as well.

'Caste Card': The Jackpot In Karnataka Politics

Basavaraj's caste, educational qualification, administrative abilities and closeness to Yeddyurappa and BJP central leaders are being cited as the main reasons for his selection for the post.

Both Bommai and Yeddyurappa come from the influential Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. The community accounts for 16-17 per cent of the state's total population and is seen as a strong vote bank of the BJP. This caste card is being seen as the major reason for electing him as CM, as there will be no resentment in the community.

Also, Bommai is believed to be the closest to Yeddyurappa. Not choosing Yeddyurappa's favorite at this time could have costed BJP heavily. The party could not take the risk of offending Yeddyurappa.

In the Yeddyurappa-led government, Bommai held the state's Home Ministry, Law and Parliamentary Affairs as well as the post of Legislative Minister of Karnataka.