Dharam Singh

Dharam Singh Biography

Dharam Singh was a prominent Indian politician from Karnataka, who served as 17th Chief Minister of Karnataka, during the time period 28 May 2004 – 28 January 2006. He was a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for seven consecutive terms, and also served as an MP once when he got elected to 14^th Lok Sabha in 2004 representing Bidar. Dharam Singh remained a very influential leader with state politics. He passed away in Bangalore on 27 July 2017 aged 80. He belonged to Indian National Congress.

Dharam Singh was born in Nelogi village of Jevargi, in Gulbarga district of present day Karnataka. He completed his Master’s and Law studies, before he turned active in state politics. He began his political career as an Independent Corporator in the Gulbarga district City Municipal Council. He stood as a contestant against his own brother and deeply influenced by socialist ideas then. He joined Indian National Congress in the late 1960s, and remained with the same party throughout his life.

He gave up his Lok Sabha seat in 1977 to accommodate C.M. Stephen, who was a Union Minister in the Indira Gandhi Cabinet, in 1980. He did so as directed by Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister and Congress leader then. He remained quite successful in state assembly, and has been elected for seven consecutive terms from 1978 to 2008. He also remained a minister under the different governments formed by Indian national congress leaders, and was made Chief Minister of state in 2004. He served as CM of Karnataka during 28 May 2004 – 28 January 2006. It was a coalition government formed by  Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) parties.

Published: July 23, 2018

Updated: July 23, 2018