https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Dharam_SinghDharam Singh - Revision history2026-07-31T08:12:02ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Dharam_Singh&diff=287084&oldid=prev->Ser Amantio di Nicolao at 02:49, 22 December 20212021-12-22T02:49:11Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|17th Chief Minister of Karnataka}}<br />
{{Other uses|Dharam Singh (disambiguation)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| nickname = [[Ajatashatru]]<br />
| education = [[Master of Arts]],<br />[[Bachelor of Laws]]<br />
| residence = [[Bangalore]],<br /> [[New Delhi]]<br />
| name = N. Dharam Singh<br />
| image = Dharam Singh.jpg<br />
| office4 = Minister of Public Works Department of Karnataka<br />
| term_start4 = 1999<br />
| term_end4 = 2004|<br />
| office5 = Leader of the Opposition of Karnataka Legislative Assembly<br />
| term_start5 = 2006<br />
| term_end5 = 2007<br />
| office = [[List of Chief Ministers of Karnataka|17th Chief Minister of Karnataka]]<br />
| governor = [[T. N. Chaturvedi]]<br />
| deputy = [[Siddaramaiah]]<br />[[M. P. Prakash]]<br />
| term_start = 28 May 2004<br />
| term_end = 28 January 2006<br />
| predecessor = [[S. M. Krishna]]<br />
| successor = [[H. D. Kumaraswamy]]<br />
| office1 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]<br />
| constituency1 = [[Bidar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bidar]]<br />
| term_start1 = 2009<br />
| term_end1 = 2014<br />
| successor1 = [[Bhagwanth Khuba]]<br />
| predecessor1 = [[Narsingrao Suryawanshi]]<br />
| constituency2 = [[Gulbarga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gulbarga]]<br />
| term_start2 = 1980<br />
| term_end2 = 1980<br />
| successor2 = [[C. M. Stephen]]<br />
| predecessor2 = Sidram Reddi<br />
| office3 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] for [[Jevargi (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Jevargi]]<br />
| constituency3 = [[Jevargi (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Jevargi]]<br />
| term_start3 = 1972<br />
| term_end3 = 2008<br />
| successor3 = Doddappagouda Patil<br />
| predecessor3 = S. Siddramgouda<br />
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]<br />
| birth_name = Dharam Narayan Singh<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|12|25|df=y}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Nelogi]], [[Karnataka State]], [[India]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|07|27|1936|12|25|df=y}}<br />
| death_place = [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]<br />
| children = 3, including [[Ajay Singh (Karnataka politician)|Ajay Singh]]<br />
| parents = Narayan Singh (Father)<br />Padmavathi Singh (Mother)<br />
| spouse = {{marriage|Prabhavati|1970|2017|end=d.}}<br />
| alma_mater = [[Osmania University]]<br />
| resting_place = [[Nelogi]]<br />
}}<br />
'''Dharam Narayan Singh''' (25 December 1936 – 27 July 2017) was an Indian senior congress politician who served as the 17th Chief Minister of Karnataka from <br />
28 May 2004 to 28 January 2006 and [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of the Lok Sabha]] from Bidar Lok Sabha constituency, in [[15th Lok Sabha]] from 2009 to 2014. He was the 18th President of the [[Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee]] and He was the nine-term Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from [[Jevargi (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Jevaragi constituency]].<br />
<br />
==Early life and family==<br />
Dharam Singh was born in [[Nelogi]] village of [[Jevargi]] taluk in [[Kalaburagi district]] of the [[Karnataka]]).<ref name="singh">{{cite web|url=http://www.karnataka.com/govt/chief-minister/dharam-singh.shtml|title= 'Invincible Man' (often referred to as Ajat Shatru in State Politics) Dharam Singh|work=Karnataka.com|publisher=Karnataka.com|access-date=2007-07-08 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070810094653/http://www.karnataka.com/govt/chief-minister/dharam-singh.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-08-10}}</ref> He was from a [[Rajput]] family,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-07-28|title=N Dharam Singh: ‘A simple politician with no enemies’|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/n-dharam-singh-a-simple-politician-with-no-enemies-ajatshatru-4770673/|access-date=2020-08-21|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> who are minority community in [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dharam Singh Was The 'Ajatashatru' Of Karnataka Politics|url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/n-dharam-singh-was-the-ajatashatru-of-karnataka-politics-1730128|access-date=2020-08-21|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> He obtained his [[master's degree|master's]] and law degrees from [[Osmania University]], [[Hyderabad]].{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}<br />
<br />
==Political career==<br />
Singh began his career in politics as an Independent Corporator in the [[Kalaburagi district]] City Municipal Council by contesting against his own brother. He started his political career as a socialist.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} He was brought up under the influence of [[Bhim Sena]] founder B. Shyam Sunder who was a legislator to Hyderabad State and served as its Deputy speaker. He was the Secretary of Hyderabad Karnataka Youth League,{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} and his election agent in 1957, and issued a pamphlet in Urdu to vote in his favour.<br />
<br />
In the late 1960s, he joined the [[Indian National Congress]] and his loyalty made him a strong contender for the post of [[List of Chief Ministers of Karnataka|Chief Minister]] in 2004.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}<br />
<br />
He gave up the [[Gulbarga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kalaburgi Lok Sabha seat]] of which he was the [[Member of Parliament]] to accommodate [[C.M. Stephen]], who was a Union Minister in the [[Indira Gandhi]] Cabinet, in 1980 on Indira Gandhi's directions.<ref name=Dharam>{{cite web|title=Kalaburgi elected Indira Gandhi's close aide 'Stephen'|url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20090405/1218018.html}}</ref><br />
<br />
He has served as a minister under various chief ministers such as [[Devaraj Urs]], [[R. Gundu Rao]], [[S. Bangarappa]], [[M. Veerappa Moily]] and [[S. M. Krishna]], and has handled diverse portfolios such as Home, Excise, Social Welfare, Urban Development and Revenue. He was KPCC president in the 1990s when his party was out of power. At that time, the Congress' national leadership was headed by [[Sitaram Kesri]], of whom Singh was said to be a favourite. He lost out to his senior colleague S. M. Krishna in the race to the Chief Minister's post in 1999.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} Then, he joined the Krishna ministry and handled the Public Works Department portfolio.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}<br />
<br />
When the 2004 state elections resulted in a hung assembly with no party getting enough seats to form a government, the Congress and [[Janata Dal (Secular)]] (JD(S)) parties decided to come together and form a coalition government. Known for his adaptability and friendly nature and his close political ties with [[H. D. Deve Gowda]], Dharam Singh was the unanimous choice of both parties to head the government.<ref name=Dharam3>{{cite news|title=Dharam Singh chosen leader of CLP|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-05-24/india/28342365_1_clp-meeting-congress-legislature-party-leader|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103065155/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-05-24/india/28342365_1_clp-meeting-congress-legislature-party-leader|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=24 May 2004}}</ref> He was sworn in as [[Chief Minister]] on 28 May 2004.<ref name=Dharam5>{{cite news|title=Dharam Singh, Siddaramaiah sworn in|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/29/stories/2004052908340100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040704060459/http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/29/stories/2004052908340100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 July 2004|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=29 May 2004}}</ref> He was the second leader from [[Kalaburgi]] to become Chief Minister after [[Veerendra Patil]]. For almost 20 months, he led the fragile coalition through many ups and downs.<br />
<br />
He was criticised for not being assertive in the sense of coming from minority community and further allowing the JD(S) supremo to join hands, which was their junior partner in coalition to call the shots in the government.<ref name="Dharam 6">{{cite news|title=As Dharam Singh fights to keep his chair, Deve Gowda calls shots in Karnataka|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/80451/|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=21 October 2005}}</ref> He left office on 3 February 2006 after the collapse of the Coalition government formed by the Congress (I) due to a defection in the JD(S) engineered by [[H.D. Kumaraswamy]], who succeeded him as Chief Minister, leading a new coalition with the BJP.<ref name=Dharam7>{{cite web|title=Dharam Singh resigns as Karnataka CM|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/28ktaka1.htm}}</ref><br />
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During the tenure of H.D. Kumaraswamy, Dharam Singh was the Leader of Opposition in the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]].<ref name=Dharam8>{{cite news|title=Dharam Singh will be Leader of the Opposition: Kharge|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/31/stories/2006013103660400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608051834/http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/31/stories/2006013103660400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 June 2007|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=31 January 2006}}</ref> However, in the 2008 state elections he was defeated by a political lightweight, Doddappagouda Patil Naribol of the BJP, by a slim margin of 52 postal votes.<ref name=Dharam9>{{cite news|title=Dharam Singh's defeat stuns admirers|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/26/stories/2008052656490400.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125094701/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/26/stories/2008052656490400.htm|url-status=dead|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2008-05-26|archive-date=2013-01-25}}</ref> In the [[Indian General Election, 2009|Lok Sabha elections]] held in May 2009, he contested the Bidar Lok Sabha constituency and emerged victorious against his former colleague Gurupadappa Nagmarpalli of the BJP by a huge margin of 92,222 votes.<ref name=Dharam10>{{cite web|title=Dharam singh wins from Bidar|url=http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/98309}}</ref> However, Dharam Singh had to bite dust in 2014 Lok Sabha election when he lost to Bhagwant Khuba by over a lakh votes, which ended his political career.<br />
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==Death==<br />
<br />
He died on 27 July 2017 due to cardiac arrest in Bengaluru, aged 80. He was cremated with State Honours and by Rajput Tradition.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-07-29|title=Dharam Singh cremated with full state honours at his birthplace|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/625299/dharam-singh-cremated-full-state.html|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref><br />
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==Positions held==<br />
* 1967: [[Councillor]], [[Gulbarga]] City Municipal Council<br />
* 1972–2008: Member of [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]<br />
* Member of State Backward Classes Commission<br />
* Minister for Urban Development, Karnataka<br />
* Minister for Home & Excise, Karnataka<br />
* Minister for Revenue and Social Welfare <br />
* KPCC President<br />
* 1999-2004: Minister for Public works, Karnataka<br />
* also PWD minister of Karnataka state<br />
* 2004-2006: [[Chief Minister of Karnataka]]<br />
* 2006-2007: Leader of Opposition, [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]<br />
* 2009-2014: [[15th Lok Sabha|Member Of Parliament]]<br />
<br />
==Criticism and controversy==<br />
The Karnataka [[Lokayukta]] Justice [[Nitte Santosh Hegde]] in 2008 has found Dharam Singh and 11 other officials guilty of causing a loss to the State exchequer owing to irregularities in the mining sector. The Lokayukta report indicted him for causing a loss of Rs. 23.22 crore. According to the report, Dharam Singh is at fault for allowing [[illegal mining]] in "patta" lands.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122360020400.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514092851/http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122360020400.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 May 2011 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Lokayutka report indicts Dharam Singh, 11 officials | date=23 December 2008}}</ref> The Lokayukta had also asked for the amount caused as loss to be recovered from Dharam Singh.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2603/stories/20090213260304000.htm | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Mines of scandal}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051226141751/http://kar.nic.in/kla/cm.htm Karnataka CM's Profile]<br />
* [http://www.karnataka.com/watch/dharamsingh/ Dharam Singh Watch]<br />
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{{s-start}}<br />
{{s-par|in-lwr}}<br />
{{s-bef|before=[[Narsingrao Suryawanshi]]}}<br />
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Bidar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bidar]] |years=2009 – 2014}}<br />
{{s-aft|after=[[Bhagwanth Khuba]]}}<br />
|-<br />
{{s-off}}<br />
{{s-bef|before=[[S.M. Krishna]]}}<br />
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief Minister of Karnataka]]|years=28 May 2004 – 28 January 2006}}<br />
{{s-aft|after=[[H. D. Kumaraswamy]]}}<br />
{{S-end}}<br />
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{{Chief Ministers of Karnataka|}}<br />
{{15th LS members from Karnataka}}<br />
{{Karnataka ministries}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Dharam}}<br />
[[Category:1936 births]]<br />
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Karnataka]]<br />
[[Category:2017 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:People from Bidar district]]<br />
[[Category:People from Kalaburagi district]]<br />
[[Category:7th Lok Sabha members]]<br />
[[Category:15th Lok Sabha members]]<br />
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Karnataka]]<br />
[[Category:Leaders of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]<br />
[[Category:Chief ministers from Indian National Congress]]<br />
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Karnataka]]<br />
[[Category:Mysore MLAs 1972–1977]]<br />
[[Category:Members of the Mysore Legislature]]<br />
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 1978–1983]]<br />
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 1983–1985]]<br />
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 1985–1989]]<br />
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 1989–1994]]<br />
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 1994–1999]]<br />
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 1999–2004]]<br />
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 2004–2007]]<br />
[[Category:State funerals in India]]</div>->Ser Amantio di Nicolao