R. V. Deshpande

R. V. Deshpande Biography

R.V.Deshpande is an Indian politician from Karnataka associated with Indian National Congress. Eight-time Congress MLA RV Deshpande is the senior most MLA from Congress in the state and has most recently elected from Haliyal constituency for the state elections held in 2018. He has earlier served as Minister for Medium & Heavy Industries in the Siddaramaiah cabinet. He has served this position for 10 years. Deshpande started his political career in the Janata Parivar, and joined Congress only in 1999.

His real name is Raghunath Vishwanath Deshpande. He was born on 16 March 1947 in Haliyal Taluk, Uttara Kannada of Karnataka. After completing his graduation in arts, he also did LLB course. He began his political career as the President of the Karnataka State Co-operative Agriculture & Rural Development Bank, and was associated with Janata Parivar, a wing of Janata Dal during his younger days. Later he became a very influential figure in state politics, and is associated with Indian National Congress for almost two decades since 1999.

An 8-term MLA from the state, he has served as Minister for Medium & Heavy Industries for 2 terms and Higher Education and Tourism ministry. For the development of education and tourism in Karnataka, his initiatives received praises from all corners. Tourism Trade Facilitation Act to ensure the safety of tourists was drafted during this tenure. In a political career spanning to about 5 decades, he has held many coveted posts in state politics. It includes - Minister for Small Scale Industries, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Housing & Urban Development, Minister for Co-operation and Minister for Tourism.

He got elected from Haliyal Constituency in State Legislative Assembly seven times. Dynamic leadership and responsive Governance are known to be his trademark qualities. In the year 2000, he brought into reality the concept of Global Investors Meet, with Karnataka being the first state to host a Global Investors Meet.

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Updated: May 18, 2018