Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 5 Points On Ex Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, BJP Candidate From Haveri

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is going to contest from the Haveri seat in the Lok Sabha polls. A close aide of BJP's Karnataka strongman BS Yediyurappa, he belongs to the politically influential Lingayat community.

Here are five facts about Basavaraj Bommai:

1. Basavaraj Somappa Bommai was born on January 28, 1960, in Hubli to former Karnataka chief minister SR Bommai and his wife, Gangamma Bommai. Basavaraj Bommai studied mechanical engineering and worked with Tata Motors before joining politics. 

2. Basavaraj Bommai became the chief minister of Karnataka in July 2021, following the resignation of BS Yediyurappa. He was sworn in as the 23rd chief minister of the state and held office till May 2023.

3. The former chief minister began his political career with the Janata Dal in 1992. He worked closely with senior leaders like HD Deve Gowda and Ramakrishna Hegde. He also served as a political secretary to former chief minister JH Patel.

4. In 1994, Mr Bommai contested in the Karnataka assembly elections from Hubli Rural but lost to BJP's Jagadish Shettar. He became a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council in 1998 and was re-elected in 2004, both times representing the Janata Dal.

5. In 2008, he left Janata Dal and joined the BJP. He was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the Shiggaon constituency the same year. Mr Bommai served as the minister for water resources from 2008 to 2013. He was also the minister of state for home affairs, law and parliamentary affairs in the BS Yediyurappa government.