Athlete, scholar, politician: Meet Parameshwara, Karnataka's new Deputy CM

G Parameshwara, 74, was on Wednesday (June 3), appointed Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka in the DK Shivakumar-led government, marking yet another milestone in a political career spanning more than three decades.

A trusted Dalit face of the Congress party in Karnataka, Parameshwara's journey to the Deputy CM's office cuts across the athletics track, academic halls in Australia, and the corridors of Karnataka politics. His elevation is widely seen as recognition of his long-standing contribution to the organisation and governance of the Congress party in the state.

Early life and education

Born on August 6, 1951, at Gollahalli village, now known as Siddharth Nagar in Tumakuru district, to Gangamalamma Chikkanna and former MLC HM Gangadharaiah, Parameshwara's early years were rooted in rural Karnataka. He received his primary education at a government school in Gollahalli before completing his secondary schooling at Siddhartha High School. An athlete during his student days, he competed at both state and national levels before choosing academics over athletics.

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Scholar before politician

Parameshwara pursued his BSc and MSc degrees in Agriculture from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, before obtaining a PhD from the Waite Agricultural Research Centre at the University of Adelaide in Australia, establishing himself as an accomplished agricultural scientist before entering public life.

Entry into politics

According to Congress sources, Parameshwara was persuaded to enter politics by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and made his electoral debut in 1989, contesting the Assembly election from the Madhugiri constituency on a Congress ticket. Except for a lone defeat in the 2013 Assembly election, he has enjoyed a remarkable electoral record, representing both Madhugiri and Koratagere Assembly constituencies three times each.

Longest-serving KPCC chief

Parameshwara's organisational contribution is perhaps best reflected in his record as the longest-serving president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), a position he held from October 27, 2010, to July 4, 2018. Under his stewardship, the Congress registered a resounding victory in the 2013 Assembly elections, returning to power in Karnataka with a comfortable majority after a decade in the opposition.

Coalition and comeback

Although the Congress fell short of a majority in the 2018 Assembly polls, it successfully formed a coalition government with the JD(S), paving the way for Parameshwara's first stint as Deputy Chief Minister in the HD Kumaraswamy-led administration.

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When the Congress returned to power in 2023 under Siddaramaiah's leadership, Parameshwara was entrusted with the crucial Home portfolio.

Beyond politics

One of the party's most prominent Dalit faces in Karnataka, Parameshwara has long been regarded as a disciplined and dependable administrator. Beyond politics, he remains closely associated with educational and social initiatives. He married Kannika Parameshwari in 1982, and the couple has a daughter, Shana Parameshwari. His return to the Deputy Chief Minister's office adds another chapter to the journey of a leader who has traversed athletics, academia, and public life.