| Office2: | 7th Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka |
| Governor2: | Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala |
| Term Start2: | 23 May 2018 |
| Term End2: | 23 July 2019 |
| 1Blankname2: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata2: | H. D. Kumaraswamy |
| Governor3: | Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala |
| Office3: | Leader of the House for Karnataka Legislative Council |
| Predecessor3: | S. R. Patil |
| Successor3: | Jayamala Ramachandra |
| Party: | Indian National Congress (since 1989) |
| Office4: | President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee |
| Term Start4: | 27 October 2010 |
| Term End4: | 4 July 2018 |
| Predecessor4: | R. V. Deshapande |
| Successor4: | Dinesh Gundu Rao |
| Birth Name: | Parameshwara Gangadharaiah |
| Birth Date: | 1951 8, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Gollahalli, Mysore State (now Karnataka), India |
| Spouse: | Kannika Parameshwari Parameshwara (m.1982) |
| Children: | Shana Parmeshwar (daughter) |
| Relatives: | Siddhanth (nephew) |
| Profession: | Politician, Agricultural scientist |
| Website: | Official Website |
| 3Blankname3: | Chief Minister |
| 3Namedata3: | Siddaramaiah |
| Term Start3: | 1 July 2016 |
| Term End3: | 24 June 2017 |
| Office: | Minister of Home Affairs, Government of Karnataka |
| Governor: | Thawar Chand Gehlot |
| Predecessor: | Araga Jnanendra |
| Governor1: | Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala |
| Predecessor1: | K. J. George |
| Successor1: | Ramalinga Reddy |
| Term Start1: | 30 October 2015 |
| Term End1: | 24 June 2017 |
| Term Start: | 27 May 2023 |
| 2Blankname: | Chief Minister |
| 2Namedata: | Siddaramaiah |
| Office5: | Minister of Information & Publicity |
| 3Blankname5: | Chief Minister |
| 3Namedata5: | S. M. Krishna |
| Governor5: | T. N. Chaturvedi |
| Term Start5: | 13 December 2003 |
| Term End5: | 28 May 2004 |
| Predecessor5: | Prof. B.K. Chandrashekar |
| Successor5: | B. Shivaram |
| Office6: | Minister of State for Medical Education |
| 4Blankname6: | Chief Minister |
| 4Namedata6: | S. M. Krishna |
| Term Start6: | 18 August 2001 |
| Term End6: | 28 May 2004 |
| Predecessor6: | Nafisa Fazal |
| Successor6: | Iqbal Ansari |
| Office7: | Minister of State for Science & Technology |
| 4Blankname7: | Chief Minister |
| 4Namedata7: | S. M. Krishna |
| Term Start7: | 11 October 1999 |
| Term End7: | 18 August 2001 |
| Successor7: | Nafisa Fazal |
| Office8: | Minister of State for Higher Education (Independent Charge) |
| Predecessor8: | Bajpe Abdul Khader Mohideen |
| Successor8: | D Manjunath |
| Term Start8: | 11 October 1999 |
| Term End8: | 28 May 2004 |
| 4Blankname8: | Chief Minister |
| 4Namedata8: | S. M. Krishna |
| Office9: | Minister of State for Sericulture |
| 5Blankname9: | Chief Minister |
| 5Namedata9: | M. Veerappa Moily |
| Governor9: | Khurshed Alam Khan |
| Term Start9: | 19 November 1992 |
| Term End9: | 11 December 1994 |
| Predecessor9: | Y. K. Ramaiah |
| Successor9: | D. Nagarajaiah |
| Citizenship: | India |
Gangadharaiah Parameshwara (born 6 August 1951) is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the Home Minister of Karnataka since 27 May 2023. He has also served as the seventh Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka,[1] and longest-serving President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee[2] for two consecutive terms.[3]
Parameshwara was born on 6 August 1951, at Gollahalli (now known as Siddartha Nagar) in Tumkur. He was born to Gangamalamma Chikkanna and Former MLC H. M. Gangadharaiah. Gangadharaiah hailed from Hebbalalu village in Amruthuru hobli of Kunigal taluk, now in Magadi taluk of Ramanagara district, before shifting to Gangamalamma's village Gollahalli in Tumakuru rural, Parameshwara is the third sibling after older brother Dr G. Shivaprasad.[4]
He studied primary education at Government School in Gollahalli (Siddartha Nagara) and Heggere, Tumkur. He went to Sri Siddhartha High School at Siddartha Nagar, which was established by his father in 1959.[5] He joined Government Pre-University College in Tumkur and after Pre-University College went on to study for a B.Sc. in agriculture in the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, followed by an M.Sc. in agriculture at the same college. After Post-Graduating, Parameshwara had briefly worked as Research Assistant in Department of Plant Physiology at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. Later, Parameshwara went overseas and obtained a PhD from Waite Agricultural Research Centre, the University of Adelaide in Plant Physiology.[6]
He joined the National Cadet Corps (India) at an early age. He was an athlete, has a record 10.9 seconds of 100 metres race in University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. He represented Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra College in Inter-College/University and Karnataka state in Indian level.
He stood 4th in the world inter university athletic championship in Belgrade and got selected to train for the Olympics. By then he received a national overseas scholarships and decided to pursue academics. Even today Dr G Parameshwara holds the highest regard for Krishna Hebbar, PHD in physical education from Moscow who trained and encouraged him in his initial days as an athlete.[7]
Parameshwara was an Administrative Officer in Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology (SSIT Tumkur) when he came back from Australia. Before this, Parameshwara had briefly worked as Research assistant in Department of Plant Physiology at UAS, Bangalore. In mid 1988, he helped his father to establish Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, which was earlier rejected by Medical Council of India & Ramakrishna Hegde's Government but Bangalore University had approved and later Supreme Court of India gave permission to sanction Sri Siddhartha Medical College.[8]
In 1989, for the inauguration of the Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Parameshwara along with the Education Minister S. M. Yahya[9] and Mallikarjun Kharge who was then President of the Sri Siddhartha Education Society, went on to invite Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, when Parameshwara went for the third time with S. M. Yahya to meet Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi told Parameshwara to enter politics and eventually S. M. Yahya took Parameshwara to then AICC general secretary Mohsina Kidwai and made him Joint Secretary of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
| Political Career | |
| Constituency4: | Madhugiri |
| Office1: | Member of Legislative Assembly |
| Predecessor4: | President's rule |
| Successor4: | Gangahanumaiah |
| Term Start4: | 18 December 1989 |
| Term End4: | 20 September 1994 |
| Office5: | Member of Legislative Council |
| Term Start5: | 1 July 2014 |
| Term End5: | 24 May 2018 |
| Constituency5: | Elected unopposed |
| Successor3: | President's rule |
| Constituency3: | Madhugiri |
| Predecessor3: | Gangahanumaiah |
| Term Start3: | 11 October 1999 |
| Term End3: | 19 November 2007 |
| Term Start1: | 15 May 2018 |
| Predecessor1: | P. R. Sudhakara Lal |
| Constituency1: | Koratagere |
| Term Start2: | 30 May 2008 |
| Term End2: | 12 May 2013 |
| Predecessor2: | C. Channigappa |
| Successor2: | Sudhakara Lal P. R. |
| Constituency2: | Koratagere |
G. Parameshwara was chairman[42] on board for Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000 and then he was Higher Education minister in S. M. Krishna Cabinet who piloted a Bill (Amending Act 10 of 2004) in February 2004 for an exclusive University in Tumkur.[43]
This act carved out half of Bangalore University to make Tumkur University at Tumkur for Tumkur, Kolar and Bangalore Rural. In the beginning, they created Dr Ambedkar Bhavan[44] for office purposes about 3 years as 200 acres land for the university wasn't available in Tumkur. Later vast land of Govt. Science & Arts College was used for University.[45]
On 12 January 2007, Tumkur University was inaugurated by Governor T. N. Chaturvedi and Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy after 3 years of passing Bill.[46] It was delayed due to lack of infrastructure and funds from the successor coalition government[43] and then Chief Minister Dharam Singh who had announced the withdrawal of the government order which froze the setting up of Tumkur university.[47]
Dr G. Parameshwara Speaking at the Teachers Day celebration organised by the directorate of collegiate education, Parameshwara said the government had already commenced recruitment of college teachers. "We would like it to be 50 per cent for women. We are considering it," he said. And also he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian Government for teachers to undertake an exchange programme for faculty improvement.[48]
In SM Krishna tenure, Dr G Parameshwara created a new educational block for Madhugiri which comprised Madhugiri, Koratagere, Sira and Pavagada.
Dr G Parameshwara signed MoU with Germany's Bavaria Police to improve Department of Home Affairs of Karnataka. A detailed study of the Bavarian system of policing was conducted during his visit to Germany. He Said, "In Bavaria, top priority is given to the safety of women, children and senior citizens. They have successfully implemented a people-friendly policing system. Over 82% of the population in Bavaria is happy with the system. The same model will be implemented in Bengaluru". As per the MoU, police personnel from Bengaluru will be sent to Bavaria for training. Bavarian officials will also visit Bengaluru for this purpose. Awareness will be raised among schoolchildren on traffic and law and order with the help of Bavarian Police.[49] [50]
He set up a coastal police academy over 25 acres in Udupi, and also noted that the regular police currently being appointed to the coastal units were not trained for swimming in the ocean or handling other work specific to their area of operation. "So now we intend to make separate recruitments for the coastal police and train them at the academy," he said.[51]
Introduced in 1997 during J. H. Patel term, Dr G. Parmeshwara upgraded it during his term as Home Minister in Siddaramaiah cabinet. upgraded with 222 Maruti Ertiga Vehicles, They were monitored and controlled from the Hoysala control room attached to the Command Centre, which works as centralised unit for monitoring complaints received at the control room and social networking sites.
Dr G. Parameshwara proposed Science City for Mysore, the first in South India, In joint collaboration by the Government of India and Government of Karnataka. The land was given by Suttur Mutt. "The Science City, which will come up at a cost of Rs 200 crore, will emerge as the biggest city in south India." said by Dr G. Parameshwara, Suttur Mutt offered 25 Acres for this project.[52]
On 1 June 2019, Dr G Parameshwara signed a MoU with Netherland company SweepSmart to provide better infrastructure to BBMP's 10 existing waste facilities in the city to "Smart Waste Centres" with their smart equipment, site lay-out, processes and KPI dashboard.[53] [54]
Dr G Parameshwara signed MoU with 2Wayste SAS, France to improve waste segregation in BBMP, Bangalore.[55]
Dr G. Parameshwara demanded the loss making HMT's Land to Indian Space Research Organisation when the NDA-led Union government decided to close HMT on April 30, 2016, Dr G. Parameshwara appealed to hand it over to ISRO instead of private companies. Dr G. Parameshwara praised S.P. Muddahanumegowda, MP, for succeeding in handing over the land to ISRO. it would later create more than 4,000 jobs in the district and will boost the economy of the district. G Parameshwara thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for establishing ISRO and HAL units in the Tumakuru district.[56]
G Parameshwara got TenderSURE roads to Bangalore Under the CBD project, major roads, including Subedar Chatram Road: from KG Road up to Seshadri Road, Gubbi Totadappa Road: from Khoday Circle via Goods Shed Road junction up to KG Road, Dhanvantari Road: from Upparpet police station to Anand Rao Circle, WH Hanumanthappa Road, roads around Gandhinagar, Bhashyam Road (Cottonpete Main Road) have been developed. A total of 9.73 km have been upgraded under the project.[57]
Dr G Parameshwara launches a Field Traffic Violation Report (FTVR) app in 2017, the app greatly helped the cops crack down on violators in some of the major junctions and roads across Hubballi Darwad twin cities. This app became an integral part of their mechanism since August 2019.[58]
| From | To | Position | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 1989 | 1992 | Joint Secretary, KPCC | |
| 02 | 1992 | 1997 | General Secretary, KPCC | |
| 03 | 1997 | 1999 | Vice President, KPCC | |
| 04 | 2007 | 2009 | Member, Congress Working Committee | |
| 05 | 2010 | 2018 | President, KPCC | |
| 06 | 2010 | 2017 | Chairman of Campaign Committee, KPCC | |
| 07 | 2022 | present | Chairman of Manifesto, Policy and Vision Committee 2023, KPCC |
| No. | Head of the Ministry | Period | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 November 1992 – 11 December 1994 | Minister of State for Sericulture | |
| 2 | |||
| 3 | 30 October 2015- 24 June 2017 | Home Minister of Karnataka | |
| 4 | 23 May 2018 - 23 July 2019 | Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka | |
| 5 | 20 May 2023[59] - Incumbent | ||
Parameshwara married Kannika Parameshwari, his friend's sister. The two had met while Parameshwara was studying in Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, later married in 1982 in Tumakuru as per Buddhist norms. He is an Ambedkarite, a follower of BR Ambedkar.[60] [61] [62] [63] Parameshwara believes in Buddhism and its philosophy. Parameshwara is an art collector and artefacts picked up by him on his visits to many places.[8]
Parameshwara has held various appointments and fellowships. These include:[2]