Basavaraj Somappa Bommai, 61, will be the new chief minister
of Karnataka. Bommai, who is succeeding BS Yediyurappa as the new chief
minister, was the home minister in the BSY-led government and was among the top
contenders for the chief minister’s post. Just like his former boss, he is also
from the Lingayat community that was batting for the outgoing CM.

The BJP leadership has played along the expected lines by
appointing Bommai as the  Karnataka chief
minister. The party could not have offended the Lingayat community, known to be
BJP supporters for over two decades and constitute 16 per cent of Karnataka’s
population. The Lingayats can reportedly influence the outcome in 100 of the
state’s 224 assembly seats. The move, therefore, coming as it does on the
threshold of state elections, is laden with political significance.

“It is a big responsibility in the given situation. I
will strive to work for the welfare of the poor. It will be pro-people and
pro-poor people governance,” Karnataka CM-elect Basavaraj S Bommai said.

Bommai was Minister of State for Home Affairs, Law,
Parliamentary Affairs, and Legislature in the BS Yediyurappa-led government. He
also served as the district incharge minister for two of Karnataka’s prime
districts Haveri and Udupi.

Prior to this, Bommai had also served as Minister for Water
Resources and Cooperation. 

The 61-year-old minister is a graduate in Mechanical
Engineering and cut his political teeth in his father’s party Janata Dal
(United). His father was the former Chief Minister of Karnataka SR Bomma.

Bommai left the Janata Dal (United) to join the Bharatiya
Janata Party in February 2008. Earlier, he was elected as a member of the
Karnataka Legislative Council, twice (in 1998 and 2004) from Dharwad local
authorities constituency.

In the 2008 Karnataka state elections, Bommai won from the
Shiggaon constituency in the Haveri district. 

An engineer by qualification and agriculturist by practice,
Bommai is known for his contributions to the state’s farming schemes.

Chief minister-elect Bommai was instrumental in the
implementation of India’s first 100% piped irrigation project at Shiggaon.

Karnataka strongman and BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa resigned
as Karnataka’s chief minister on Monday ending weeks of speculation over his
exit.