No Lok Sabha member from Shimoga has become minister

Shimoga district, that gave four chief ministers to the State, has missed a ministerial berth in the Union Cabinet again. 

None who represented this constituency in the Lok Sabha since 1952 has become a minister. In order to break this jinx, the BJP fielded its strongman B S Yeddyurappa from Shimoga, with the hope that he stands the best chance of becoming a minister, if Modi becomes prime minister.

During the election campaigns, Rajya Sabha member and district BJP president Ayanur Manjunath had repeatedly stated that Yeddyurappa would emerge victorious and become a Union Cabinet minister. 

Yeddyurappa had himself stated that he had the desire to present a separate budget for agriculture as a Union minister. 

As BJP leaders desired, Modi became the prime minister, but Yeddyurappa was denied a berth, despite recording the biggest victory margin of 3,63,305 votes in the State. 

This has disappointed people of the district in general and BJP workers in particular. The local BJP leaders wanted Yeddyurappa to create a record by becoming the first Union minister, representing the Shimoga parliamentary seat. But that has not happened. 

The Shimoga constituency has faced Lok Sabha polls 17 times so far. As many as 10 members (excluding Yeddyurappa) represented Shimoga in the Lok Sabha. 

Among them, former chief minister, the late S Bangarappa, represented the constituency four times, a record so far. 

The late T V Chandrashekharappa and K J Wadiyar had represented the constituency in the Lower House of Parliament thrice and twice, respectively.  C M Ibrahim, who hails from Bhadravathi in Shimoga district, had been a minister in the Union Cabinet headed by H D Deve Gowda during the 1990s. But he was a Rajya Sabha member and not a member of the Lok Sabha. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, R K Siddaramanna, MLC and BJP leader, said, “We were hopeful that Yeddyurappa would be given a ministerial berth, considering his seniority and contribution to the growth of the party in the State.

 However, that has not happened. We are hopeful that he will become a minister in the Modi government in future.”