H. D. Kumaraswamy Age, Caste, Wife, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Full name	Haradanahalli Deve Gowda Kumaraswamy [1]The Times of India
Nickname(s)	Kumaranna (Kumar, the elder brother), [2]Hindustan Times HDK, [3]Bangalore Mirror Mannina Mommaga [4]The Times of India
Profession	Politician
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	5' 5" (165 cm)
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black (half bald)
Politics
Political Party	• Janata Dal (1996-1999) • Janata Dal (Secular) (1999 - Present)
Political Journey	• Joined Janata Dal party • Elected as MP from Kanakapura in 1996 • Contested and lost Kanakapura Lok Sabha seat in 1998 • Contested and lost Kanakapura Lok Sabha seat in 1999 • Joined formation of Janata Dal (Secular) upon its formation in 1999 • Contested and lost Sathanur assembly seat in 1999 • Elected as MLA from Ramanagara in 2004 • Chief Minister of Karnataka (3 February 2006 – 9 October 2007) • Re-elected as MLA from Ramanagarain 2008 • Elected as MP from Bangalore Rural in 2009 • Became Member of Committee on Rural Development on 31 August 2009 • Became Member of Committee on Food Management in Parliament House Complex on 15 October 2009 • Re-elected as MLA from Ramanagara in 2013 • Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly (31 May 2013 – 22 January 2014) • President of Janata Dal (Secular), Karnataka (2014–2022) • Elected as MLA from Channapatna 2018 • Chief Minister of Karnataka (23 May 2018 – 23 July 2019) • Elected as MLA from Channapatna in 2023 • Won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Mandya constituency with a margin of 2,84,620 as a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate
Sandalwood
Debut (as a producer)	Film: Surya Vamsha (1999)
Personal Life
Date of Birth	16 December 1959 (Wednesday)
Age (as of 2024)	65 Years
Birthplace	Haradanahalli, Holenarasipura taluk of Hassan district, Karnataka
Zodiac sign	Sagittarius
Signature
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Bengaluru, Karnataka
College/University	• Vijaya College, Bangalore, Karnataka • National College Jayanagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Educational Qualification	• Enrolled in Vijaya College, Bangalore to pursue a pre-university course but failed in it [5]Bangalore Mirror • Bachelor of Science at National College Jayanagar in Bengaluru, Karnataka [6]MyNeta
Religion	Hinduism
Caste	Vokkaliga Note: Vokkaliga, categorised as OBC in Karnataka, is a group of closely-related castes hailing from the Indian state of Karnataka. [7]The Quint It is an influential caste like the Lingayats in Karnataka and forms 16 percent of the state’s population.
Food Habit	Vegetarian Note: Earlier, Kumaraswamy was a non-vegetarian, but he quit eating meat due to health issues in 2014. [8]Bangalore Mirror
Address	281, Padmanabhanagar, Banashankari II, Bangalore – 560070, Karnataka
Hobbies	Watching films
Controversies	• Accused of Conspiring to Murder B. Sriramulu: Ahead of the run-up to state-wide civic polls in Karnataka in 2007, tourism minister and BJP leader B Sriramulu alleged that CM Kumaraswamy was conspiring to murder him. Although Sriramulu did not lodge any criminal complaint with the police over the attempt to murder, he submitted a petition against Kumaraswamy's political accomplice Suryanarayana Reddy and a few other JD(S) leaders. At that time, Karnataka's ruling coalition partners, BJP and JD(S), were playing a game of cat and mouse over the transfer of chief ministership. Sriramulu's allegations against Kumaraswamy led the ruling coalition to the verge of breakup. In his defence, while talking to reporters, Kumaraswamy claimed that some BJP members were conspiring to tarnish his image in public. After being backlashed by BJP, Sriramulu had to tender his resignation as a minister to B S Yediyurappa, ensuring that Sriramulu did not remain a bone of contention in the power-sharing. Sriramulu announced that he would not be part of the JD(S)-BJP coalition ministry even after Kumaraswamy transfers the power to BJP's deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa during the next 20 months. [9]Mumbai Mirror • Bigamy Charges: In 2011, advocate Shashidhar Belagumbe filed a PIL in the Karnataka High Court claiming that Kumaraswamy had violated the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 by getting married to Radhika, his second wife, while he was already married to Anitha. Although various tabloids highlighted the alleged affair of Kumaraswamy and Radhika, he had maintained strict silence on the issue in public until then. Belagumbe submitted newspaper reports that stated the alleged affair as proof to the HC. Belagumbe also submitted photographs of Kumaraswamy and Radhika together with their daughter. The division bench headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen dismissed the PIL on the grounds of lack of proof.  [10]The Indian Express • Accused of Involvement in Janthakal Mining Scam: In 2017, corruption charges were levelled against Kumaraswamy by Lokayukta for his alleged involvement in an illegal iron or mining scam connected to the Jantakal mines in Karnataka. Reportedly, Kumaraswamy, while serving as the CM of Karnataka (2006-2007), lend his assistance in facilitating a major mining scam that benefited a privately-owned company named Janthakal Enterprises. It was alleged that Kumaraswamy had pressured a senior bureaucrat named Ganga Ram Baderiya to renew the firm's mining lease for 40 years in 2007 with forged documents, violating of numerous rules. Moreover, it is said that Kumaraswamy allowed Janthakal Enterprises to lift 100,000 tonnes of iron ore without requisite permissions under the Forest Conservation Act. Kumaraswamy dismissed the charges and claimed that the case was made out of political vendetta, but a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and P C Pant directed Kumaraswamy and his wife to face trial in the graft case. [11]The Indian Express • Vishwabharati Case: Once a Bengaluru-based advocate named Vinod Kumar obtained information under the Right to Information Act that Kumaraswamy had allotted 80 acres (approx.) of land to Vishwabharathi Housing Cooperative Society just four days before resigning as the CM of Karnataka in 2007. In 2011, Karnataka HC quashed criminal proceedings against Kumaraswamy, but the SC bench set aside the 2011 ruling of Karnataka HC in 2016 and ordered him to face trial in the 2007 land allotment case. [12]The Times of India • Land De-Notification Case: Once complainant Mahadevswamy claimed that Kumaraswamy, during his tenure as CM of Karnataka (2006-2007), had de-notified 3.8 acres of land in Thanisandra village, which had been acquired by the Bangalore Development Authority for the formation of residential sites in Arkavathy Layout. While Mahadevswamy sought action against Kumaraswamy under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Kumaraswamy filed a petition seeking dismissal of the case arguing that it was baseless. Finally, a special Lokayukta court acquitted Kumaraswamy in the land de-notification in 2018. Judge D B Patil said the court did not find any proof to establish Kumaraswamy's guilt in the case [13]Deccan Chronicle • Accusing BJP of Violence During CAA Protests: Kumaraswamy stirred controversy in 2020 when he released Video CDs of the violent clashes between police and anti-CAA protesters in Mangaluru during a press meeting held in JP Bhavan in Bengaluru. The videos featured police lathi-charging the protestors and opening fire which led to the death of 2 people. [14]The Hindu He immensely criticized the ruling BJP government for using inhuman procedures to suppress the protests. BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje reciprocated the accusations against her party by claiming that Kumaraswamy was misleading the probe and had fabricated the videos. Additionally, she also demanded to know the source of origin of the videos. Meanwhile, CM BS Yediyurappa also dismissed the videotapes and referred to them as a 'cut-and-paste job'. [15]The Times of India • Garnered Critisim For Anti-Brahmin Remarks: Following the 2023 assembly elections in Karnataka, Kumaraswamy claimed that RSS was conspiring to make Pralhad Joshi the CM of Karnataka. Joshi was serving as the Union Minister for Coal and Mines at that time. Kumaraswamy garnered criticism when he alleged that Joshi belonged to a category among Brahmins "who lacked culture and divides society." Kumaraswamy also said that the Union Minister belonged to a sect of Brahmins which desecrated the Sringeri Shankaracharya Peeth and assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. Kumaraswamy's harsh remarks came in the aftermath of Joshi’s statement in which he said that JD(S) should have undertaken a “Navagraha Yatra ” instead of a Pancharatna Yatra (party rally) "as 8-9 members of the party patriarch H D Deve Gowda’s immediate family are in politics." Days later, Kumaraswamy explained that he had highlighted only those Brahmins who had attacked the Chandramouleshwara temple in Sringeri, a section which assassinated Mahatma Gandhi and Maratha ruler Shivaji. He claimed that the Brahmins he referred to were not from Karnataka but the neighbouring state of Maharashtra. [16]Hindustan Times  • Objectionable Comments on MP Sumalatha: In 2021, Kumaraswamy made derogatory comments against Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent MP from Mandya. He said, "If the gates are leaking, make her (Sumalatha) sleep in front of the sluice gates to prevent seepage” His statement came soon after he led a delegation of MLAs to BS Yediyurappa to emphasize that the state-owned “MySugar” (Mysore Sugar) factory in Mandya should not be leased out to private industrial units. There were reports that it may be leased for 40 years to a sugar factory baron in Yediyurappa’s cabinet. [17]The Times of India
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Affairs/Girlfriends	• Radhika Kumaraswamy (actress, film producer) (until 2006) (image in Wife/Spouse section)
Marriage Date	First Marriage- 13 March 1986 Second Marriage- Year, 2006
Family
Wife/Spouse	• Anitha Kumaraswamy (politician) • Radhika Kumaraswamy (actress, film producer)
Children	Son- H. K. Nikhil Gowda (Actor; from his first wife) Daughter- Shamika K. Swamy (from his second wife)
Parents	Father- H. D. Deve Gowda (politician) Mother- Chennamma
Siblings	Brothers- 3 • Balakrishna Gowda (former Karnataka Administrative Service officer) • Prajwal Revanna (politician and member of JD(S) • H.D. Ramesh (doctor) Sisters- 2 • Anusuya (homemaker) • Shylaja (homemaker)
Favourites
Film	Bangaarada Manushya (1972)
Actor (Kannada)	Dr. Rajkumar
Food	Nati koli saaru, Fish Curry
Money Factor
Assets/Properties	Movable Assets • Cash: Rs. 12,05,380 • Deposits in Banks: Rs. 11,68,858 • Bonds, Debentures and Shares in companies: Rs. 10,53,220 • NSS, Postal Savings etc: Rs. 62,000 • Personal loans/advance given: Rs. 7,16,75,178 • Motor Vehicles: Rs. 12,55,816 • Jewellery: Rs. 53,05,000 • Other assets: Rs. 2,27,31,167 Immoveable Assets • Agricultural Land: Rs. 30,60,26,000 • Residential Buildings: Rs. 5,52,81,000 Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the financial year 2022-23. It does not include the assets owned by his wife and dependents. [18]MyNeta
Net Worth (as of 2023)	Rs. 29,21,35,302 Note: It does not include the net worth of his wife and dependents [19]MyNeta

Some Lesser Known Facts About H. D. Kumaraswamy

• He grew up in a big family, with 5 siblings, 3 brothers and two sisters.
  

  A family portrait of H. D. Kumaraswamy

• During his school day, notorious Kumaraswamy would bunk classes to watch films, engage in quarrels with the teachers, and listen to cricket commentary and film songs sitting on the back bench. He talked about the same in an interview and said,
  

  I used to create mayhem at home, hitting the walls, banging the doors, only to make my mother give me some money to buy cinema tickets.”

• Poor in studies, he failed a pre-university course at Vijaya College. Recalling the same in an interview, he said,
  

  I was an average student in school, and gave my parents trouble by scoring low marks. I failed in PUC. I also used to get into scraps in college.”

• His sister Anusuya is married to Dr C.N. Manjunath, who works as a cardiologist at Shri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology. His sister Shylaja is married to Dr Chandra Shekhar, who is an orthopaedic surgeon.

• In 1986, he got married to a chemical engineering graduate named Anitha. After marriage, she remained a homemaker till 2013 when she contested and lost the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency in bye-elections.

• In an interview, Kumaraswamy revealed that Anitha did not support his decision to pursue a career in politics. ^[20]Bangalore Mirror While talking about the same he said,
  

  She said she would marry me only if I didn’t enter politics. However, over the years, she has realised my commitment to my people, and now she completely believes in me.”

• He started his political journey as a member of the Janata Dal party when he was elected as MP from Kanakapura in 1996. The general elections resulted in Janata Dal reaching its pinnacle as H. D. Deve Gowda became the prime minister of India, heading the United Front (UF) coalition government. In 1999, the splinter party Janata Dal (Secular) was formed under H. D. Deve Gowda and Siddaramaiah when a faction led by Chief Minister J. H. Patel lent its support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Thereafter, Kumaraswamy became a member of JD(S).
  

  H D Kumaraswamy during a political campaign for Janata Dal (Secular)

• He won the Ramanagara assembly seat in 2004. Meanwhile, no party won enough seats to form a government in Karnataka in 2004, resulting in a hung assembly. Consequently, the INC with 65 members and JD(S) with 58 members joined hands to form a coalition government with Dharam Singh as the chief minister. Tables turned in early 2006 when JD(S) withdrew its support from the coalition and forged an alliance with the BJP. The new government positioned H. D. Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister and BJP’s B. S. Yeddyurappa as Deputy Chief Minister.
  

  H D Kumaraswamy giving a speech

• As CM, he held the portfolios of the Home Department, Department Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Cabinet Affairs, Intelligence, Urban Development, and Other departments not allocated to any Minister.

• During his tenure as the Chief Minister, Karnataka’s GDP recorded an all-time high and he became popular as the People’s CM.

• Obeying the power-sharing accord with BJP, Kumaraswamy made an announcement in September 2007 that he would step down as CM on October 3, but legislators of the coalition partners asked him not to decide on quitting in haste and to take them into confidence on the issue first. The Power games in Karnataka led to the imposition of President’s Rule in the state on the recommendation of Governor Rameshwar Thakur after Kumaraswamy’s resignation on 8 October 2007.

• He underwent open heart surgery in December 2007.

• Later, JD(S) lent its support to the BJP and B. S. Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the CM of Karnataka on 12 November 2007, but soon, Kumaraswamy withdrew its support from the BJP government over a disagreement on sharing of ministries, leading to Yeddyurappa’s resignation from the post of CM on 19 November 2007.

• Kumaraswamy’s second marriage Radhika became public in November 2010 when she selectively released her pictures with him and their baby girl. Sources close to Kumaraswamy claimed that releasing photographs was nothing but Radhika’s attempt to ensure her status in society if something went wrong in future. Sources were sceptical that maybe all is not well between the actress and Kumaraswamy. ^[21]The New Indian Express Previously, Radhika was married to Ratan Kumar, who died in August 2002 following a heart attack.

• Kumaraswamy tried to resign from the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly in August 2013, but the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislative Party (JDLP) did not accept his resignation.

• He took over as the Karnataka JD(S) president in 2014 after the passing away of Merajuddin Patel.

• He went through a valve replacement surgery in 2017. Apart from that, he is also diabetic.

• In 2018, he was elected from two assembly constituencies, Ramanagara and Channapatna, defeating BJP candidate C. P. Yogeshwar. He vacated the Ramanagara seat, which was won by his wife, Anitha Kumaraswamy, in the bye-elections.

• When the 2018 assembly elections resulted in a hung assembly, INC and JD(S) formed a coalition government with HD Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister.
  

  H. D. Kumaraswamy after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka at Bengaluru’s Vidhan Soudha in 2018

  Thereafter, Kumaraswamy became incharge of 11 portfolios and departments which were the Department of Cabinet Affairs, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Department of Finance (including Excise, Institutional Finance and Small Savings & Lotteries), Intelligence wing from Home Department, Information & Public Relations from Kannada and Culture (Information and Public Relation Department), Planning and Statistics Department, Energy Department, Department of Public Enterprises, Infrastructure Development Department, Textiles from Commerce and Industries Department, and the ones which was not assigned to anybody.

  

  Leaders of Congress and non-BJP parties at the swearing-in ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister at  Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru (2018)

• This coalition government formed in 2018 lasted for 14 months before 16 legislators from the coalition resigned within a span of 2 days and 2 independent MLAs switched their support to BJP. On 23 July 2019, Kumarasamy lost the trust vote by 100–107 in the house and resigned from the post of CM.
  

  Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy speaking during the vote of confidence in the Assembly Session at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on 23 July 2019

• Kumaraswamy also runs a family-owned cinema hall and a petrol pump along with his three brothers. Via Chennambika Films, Kumaraswamy has produced several successful Kannada films including Chandra Chakori, which was a huge hit, with 365 day-run in theatres.
  

  Chandra Chakori’s poster

• A huge fan of Kannada actor thespian Rajkumar, Kumaraswamy used to wear clothes like Rajkumar wore in his films.

• In April 2024, his brother Prajwal Revanna was booked in a sex scandal reportedly involving several women. A woman complainant also named his father, HD Revanna, as an accused. Three days before the Lok Sabha polls in Hassan on 26 April 2024, Sex video clips, allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna, surfaced on social media. Later, the state government formed an SIT to investigate the matter. After an FIR was filed against him, he reportedly fled the country and moved to Germany. While distancing himself and the party from the matter, HD Kumaraswamy said that he and HD Deve Gowda never disrespected any woman. ^[22]The Indian Express