R. Ashoka

R. Ashoka Biography

R. Ashoka is an Indian politician from the state of Karnataka who formerly served as a member of Karnataka legislative assembly and deputy Chief Minister. He served as Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka during 13 July 2012 – 8 May 2013 in the BJP government headed by Jagadish Shettar. During his term he represented the Padmanabhanagar constituency of Bangalore city in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. He is a long-term member of Bharatiya Janata Party, and an influential political leader from Bangalore city.

He was born in Bangalore in 1957. R. Ashoka got involved with politics during his younger years in the 1970s. During the emergency period, he got arrested and was jailed at Bangalore. Senior leader Advani was also jailed in the same prison. He won the first state assembly elections in 1997 after a long wait. He won from Uttarahalli Constituency on Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. He was re-elected from the same constituency in 1999 and 2004 general election.

In 2008 he joined state assembly for the fourth term in a row and was inducted to cabinet for the first time. He was appointed as the Minister of Health in the Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal (Secular) (BJP-JD(S)) coalition government in 2008. He brought in many reforms in health department and rural areas during his tenure as health minister. He also made surprise visits to hospitals to inspect and review their functioning, apart from raiding several rural private clinics. By doing so he exposed many fake medical practitioners of the state.

He then served as Minister of Transport in the Yeddyurappa Government. When Jagadish Shettar became Chief Minister in June 2012, he became one of the two deputy CMs. He was also given the portfolios - Home and Transport.

Published: January 17, 2019

Updated: January 17, 2019