R. Ashoka Explained

R. Ashoka
Office:Leader of the Opposition
Karnataka Legislative Assembly
Term Start:17 November 2023
1Blankname:Chief Minister
1Namedata:Siddaramaiah
Predecessor:B. S. Bommai (Acting)
Office1:Minister of Revenue
Government of Karnataka
Term Start1:20 August 2019
Term End1:13 May 2023
1Blankname1:Chief Minister
1Namedata1:B. S. Yediyurappa
Basavaraj Bommai
Predecessor1:R. V. Deshpande
Office2:Minister of Municipal Administration
Government of Karnataka
Term Start2:27 September 2019
Term End2:10 February 2020
1Blankname2:Chief Minister
1Namedata2:B. S. Yediyurappa
Predecessor2:R. Shankar
Successor2:Narayana Gowda
Office3:Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka
Term Start3:12 July 2012
Term End3:13 May 2013
Alongside3:K. S. Eshwarappa
Predecessor3:B. S. Yediyurappa
Successor3:G. Parameshwara
Office4:Minister of Home Affairs
Government of Karnataka
Term Start4:23 September 2010
Term End4:13 May 2013
1Blankname4:Chief Minister 2024
1Namedata4:B. S. Yediyurappa
Sadananda Gowda
Jagadish Shettar
Predecessor4:V. S. Acharya
Successor4:K. J. George
Office5:Minister of Transport
Government of Karnataka
Term Start5:30 May 2008
Term End5:13 May 2013
1Blankname5:Chief Minister
1Namedata5:B. S. Yediyurappa
Sadananda Gowda
Jagadish Shettar
Predecessor5:N. Chaluvaraya Swamy
Successor5:Ramalinga Reddy
Office6:Minister of Health & Family Welfare
Government of Karnataka
Term Start6:18 February 2006
Term End6:8 October 2007
1Blankname6:Chief Minister
1Namedata6:H. D. Kumaraswamy
Predecessor6:N. Chaluvaraya Swamy
Successor6:B. Sriramulu
Office7:Member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly
Term Start7:May 2008
Predecessor7:Seat established
Constituency7:Padmanaba Nagar
Term Start8:1998
Term End8:2008
Predecessor8:M. Srinivas
Successor8:Seat disestablished
Constituency8:Uttarahalli
Birth Date:1957 7, df=yes[1]
Birth Place:Jalahalli, Mysore State, India
Residence:Bangalore
Party:Bharatiya Janata Party
Education:Bachelor of Science

Ramaiah Ashoka (born 1 July 1957) is an Indian politician who served as the 6th Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka.[2] [3] He is now currently serving as Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly (2023-), previously served as the Deputy Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly (2014 -2018), Minister of Revenue, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Transport under the BJP government.[4] He has also served as the Minister of Health and Family Welfare under the coalition government of BJP and JDS.[5] He is a Seven-time MLA for Padmanabhanagar Assembly Constituency (before Delimitation Uttarahalli assembly constituency).

Early political career

During Emergency (1975–77), he was arrested and detained in prison along with veteran leaders like L.K. Advani at the Central Jail in Bengaluru. He was first elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in the 1997 by-Elections from Uttarahalli, which was the biggest state legislature constituency in India before delimitation. He was re-elected from the same constituency in 1999 and 2004 Assembly elections with impressive margins. In the 2004 elections, he won by a margin of 84,001 votes which is the highest in any Karnataka Assembly election.[6]

Positions held

In 2008, he became the Minister of Health and family welfare in the Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal (Secular) (BJP-JD(S)) coalition government. As a minister, he implemented novel schemes and also streamlined the administration of the department.[7]

As Minister of Transport in the Yeddyurappa Government from 2008 onwards, he was instrumental in modernizing the department and also using innovative hi-tech methods to automate the working of the department.[8]

When Jagadish Shettar became Chief Minister in June 2012, Ashoka was appointed one of the two Deputy chief ministers and entrusted with the ministries of Home and Transport in the Government of Karnataka.[9] [10] [11]

Ashoka is regarded as one of the most influential leaders of the BJP in Bangalore city and has steered the party to historic victories in the 2010 and 2015 BBMP elections.[12] [13] [14]

On 26 August 2019, Ashoka was appointed the Revenue Minister in Karnataka government excluding Muzrai.[15] [16]

Notes and References

  1. News: S . Rajashekara . Revenue Minister R Ashoka tests negative, celebrates birthday in Chikkamagaluru . 9 August 2020 . Bangalore Mirror . 2 July 2020 . en.
  2. News: 2 Deputy CMs for Karnataka. 10 July 2012. 7 January 2020. www.thehindu.com. The Hindu.
  3. News: This former dy CM is a step closer to the top job. K. R.. Balasubramanyam. 2 May 2018. 7 January 2020. The Economic Times.
  4. News: 2023-11-21 . Ashoka: My election as LoP result of consensus . 2024-01-20 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  5. Web site: A . Naina J. . Karnataka LoP R Ashoka says Congress scared of losing Lok Sabha polls . 2024-01-20 . Deccan Herald . en.
  6. Web site: Karnataka Elections 2018: Election Trivia. News18. 7 January 2020.
  7. News: State keen to maintain record, says Ashok. https://web.archive.org/web/20080605175358/http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/08/stories/2007010815160400.htm. dead. The Hindu. 2007-01-08. 2008-06-05.
  8. News: KSRTC to add 3,000 new buses this year. The Hindu.
  9. News: Jagdish Shettar will have 2 deputies as he takes oath as Karnataka CM today. 26 June 2016. India Today. 11 July 2012.
  10. Web site: Cabinet Reshuffle: Ashoka gets Home, Palemar gets Muzrai. Daijiworld.
  11. News: The Rise & Rise Of Ashoka. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815164824/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/TOINEW/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIBG%2F2010%2F09%2F26&GZ=T&ViewMode=HTML&EntityId=Ar00600&AppName=1. dead. 15 August 2016. The Times of India.
  12. News: BJP Wins Bangalore Municipal Elections For The First Time. 26 June 2016. DNA India. 5 April 2010.
  13. News: For BBMP Polls, BJP Puts R Ashok At Helm. https://web.archive.org/web/20150803092650/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/For-BBMP-Polls-BJP-Puts-R-Ashok-At-Helm/2015/08/02/article2953204.ece. dead. 3 August 2015. 26 June 2016. The New Indian Express. 2 August 2015.
  14. News: BBMP results: BJP sweeps Bangalore civic body's poll. 26 June 2016. India Today. 25 August 2015.
  15. News: Bharadwaj . K. V. Aditya . In a first, Karnataka to have 3 Deputy Chief Ministers . 27 August 2019 . The Hindu . 26 August 2019 . en-IN.
  16. News: Karnataka CM Yediyurappa announces names of three Deputy Chief Ministers . 27 August 2019 . www.thenewsminute.com . 26 August 2019.