Ananth Kumar
Ananth Kumar
Ananth Kumar is an Indian political leader and social worker, trader, and also a successful industrialist.He is a BJP member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Bangalore South constituency of Karnataka.
Early life
Ananth Kumar was born on 22 July 1959 in Bangalore, Karnataka to H.N. Narayan Shastry and Girija. He graduated in the faculty of Arts (B.A) from K.S.Arts College at Hubli affiliated to Karnatak University and later completed his bachelors in law (L.L.B) from J.S.S. Law College affiliated to the Mysore University. He is a voluntary member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Public Life
The strong man of BJP in Karnataka, in his early days was very much influenced by the ideology of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in his college days and naturally choose Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the students wings.While participating in the J.P. Movement against Emergency Rule in India, during1975-77, he was imprisoned for almost 40 days.
At a very early age, he was elected as the secretary of A.B.V.P., of Karnataka from 1982 to 85 and then appointed as the National Secretary of the organization from 1985 to 87.He graduated from Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthri Parishad to join its political counterpart Bharatiya Janata Party.He was nominated as the State President of BJP Yuva Morcha in Karnataka.
He was appointed as the secretary of B.J.P, Karnataka from 1987 to 88, then its General Secretary from 1988 to 95 and finally rose to the position of National Secretary of B.J.P from 1995 to 98.
Ananth Kumar was elected in the four Lok Sabha elections consecutively, in the 11th, 12th, 13th and in the 14th Lok Sabha elections. He was one of the distinguished leaders to raise his voice and fight for the Ram Janmabhoomi cause in Karnataka. In 1998 he was re elected and was inducted in the cabinet headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the minister for Civil Aviation.
He also handled ministries like Tourism, Sports, Youth Affairs & Culture, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation. He was also the youngest minister in the Vajpayee's cabinet. During his tenure he introduced various fresh innovative approaches, diplomatic thinking and planning, improving the lives of millions of people through various developmental projects.
Positions Held
- Secretary, Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarathi Parishad (A.B.V.P.), Karnataka : 1982-85
- National Secretary, A.B.V.P. : 1985-87
- Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.), Karnataka : 1987-88
- General Secretary, B.J.P., Karnataka : 1988-95
- National Secretary, B.J.P. : 1995 -98
- Elected to 11th Lok Sabha : 1996
- Member of the Governing Council Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 1996-97
- Member of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee, Ministry of Industry : 1996-97
- Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, Ministry of Railways : 1996-97
- Elected to 12th Lok Sabha (2nd term) : 1998
- Union Cabinet Minister, Civil Aviation : March 1998- October 1999
- Additional charge, Ministry of Tourism : January 1999 -October 1999
- Elected to 13th Lok Sabha (3rd term) : 1999
- Union Cabinet Minister, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports : October 1999- 2 February 2000
- Union Cabinet Minister, Tourism and Culture : February 2000 -September 2001
- Union Cabinet Minister, Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation with additional charge of Rural Development : September 2001- July 2003
- President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Karnataka : 2003-2004
- Elected to 14th Lok Sabha( 4th term) : 2004
- Chairman, Committee on Coal & Steel : August 2004
- Member of the Parliamentary General Purposes Committee : 2004
- National General Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Party : 2004
Personal Life
Son of Shri H.N. Narayana Sastry and Smt. Girija N. Shastry. He married Smt. Tejaswini A. on 15th February 1989 and has two daughters.His wife is a partner in Oak Systems.
