Hucche Gowda most remembered politician

In the political history of Chikmagalur, one of the names that is remembered even today is M Hucche Gowda. He was the first elected parliamentarian from Chikmagalur constituency.

His political career is interesting for, he contested Lok Sabha polls, without battling elections in any levels.

Contesting from Praja Samajvadi Party, he won from the constituency that was considered as a strong hold of Congress.

M Hucche Gowda, hailing from Makonahalli in Mudigere taluk, was the member of prestigious Makonahalli Doddamane family.

 He was the second son of Uddhe Gowda and Siddhamma couple. After the delimitation when Chikmagalur was separated from Hassan constituency, Hucchegowda tried his luck in the first parliament election of Chikmagalur constituency in 1967 and defeated his opponent A M Basave Gowda from Indian National Congress.

Hucchegowda had secured 1,06,812 votes against his rival candidates Basavegowda (88,589 votes), independent candidates K Shamanna (44,170 votes) and T Rudrappa (7,518 votes). Contemporary of M S Dyave Gowda and N K Malle Gowda, Hucche Gowda had studied upto intermediate. He had developed a keen interest in politics from his young age and had served jail term during freedom struggle. He shared a close bond with Sahukar Chennaiah of Mysore and had actively involved in Congress politics when he was 25 year old.

When the Congress refused to give him a ticket in the parliament election, he contested from the PSP and won the election. Known for simplicity and honesty, Bacchegowda was a staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi.

He had served as the district Congress president for 15 years and was also the state working committee member.

Recalling about Bacche Gowda, his relative M S Balakrishna (75) said that Bacche Gowda had focused developing Chikmagalur district. He wanted to develop interior roads in Malnad region and was always lending his helping hand to the poor.

Bacche Gowda had strong belief in the community welfare through co-operative sector.
He had not only propagated the importance of founding co-operative bank for the betterment of farmers and poor, but also was the founder president of the District Central Co-operative Bank. He was the first president of the District Co-operative Union.

After PSP merged with the Congress, though option was open for Bacche Gowda to contest the Lok Sabha election for the second time, he refused the opportunity and made way for his disciple D B Chandre Gowda. Though he did not continue in active politics, he remained as the Congress member till his last breath.

Congress sources said that Bacche Gowda’s family was considered ‘prestigious’ in Makonahalli, while the same status was enjoyed by D B Chandre Gowda’s family in Daradahalli, in Mudigere region.

Both the families had developed rivalry and were not in talking to each other. Yet, D B Chandre Gowda campaigned in favour of Hucche Gowda during election and had to face the fury of his family members who boycotted him for six months. This did not deter Chandre Gowda from striving for the victory of Hucche Gowda.

Their bond was so strong that Hucche Gowda stepped back from contesting the election for the second time, allowing Chandre Gowda to enter into active politics.