Daljeetbhutal at 16:57, 4 October 2025

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{{short description|Indian politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = K. G. Bopaiah
| image = file:K.G.Bopaiah.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Kombarana Ganapathy Bopaiah
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1951|10|17}}
| birth_place = [[Madikeri]], [[Coorg State]], India
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office = 13th [[List of speakers of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly|Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start = 17 November 2009
| term_end = 17 May 2013
| chief minister =
| predecessor = [[Jagadish Shettar]]
| successor = [[Kagodu Thimmappa]]
| governor = [[Hansraj Bhardwaj]]
| office2 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start2 = May 2008
| term_end2 = May 2023
| constituency2 = [[Virajpet Assembly constituency|Virajpet]]
| predecessor2 = H. D. Basavaraju
| successor2 = [[A. S. Ponnanna]]
| chiefminister2 =
| term_start3 = 2004
| term_end3 = 2007
| constituency3 = [[Madikeri Assembly constituency|Madikeri]]
| predecessor3 = Mundanda M Nanaiah
| successor3 = [[Appachu Ranjan]]
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata party]]
| religion =
| spouse = Kunthi
| children = 2
| website =
}}

'''Kombarana Ganapathy Bopaiah''' (born 17 October 1951) is an Indian politician who served as the Speaker of the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]. He is affiliated with the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and has been appointed the pro tem speaker of the Legislative Assembly by the Governor of Karnataka in 2018.

==Early life==
K. G. Bopaiah was born into a [[Kodagu Gowda]] (Arebashe Gowda) family on 17 October 1951 at Kalur, a small village near [[Madikeri]] in [[Kodagu]] district. He received his primary education at the Kalur Government Primary School and later attended high school in Chettalli, [[Somwarpet]] taluk. In 1974, he earned his BSc degree from the then Government Senior College (now known as Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College) in Somwarpet.

Following his undergraduate studies, Bopaiah pursued law at BMS College in [[Bangalore]]. He excelled in his legal studies and graduated as a gold medallist. In 1980, he returned to Madikeri and commenced his career as a practicing lawyer.

==Political career==
He was closely associated with the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) and the [[Sangh Parivar]] since his childhood. Also, he was an active member of the [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]] during his college days. He participated in the movement against the Kambadakada dam project in Kodagu proposed by the government in the 1970s. He was arrested during the [[Emergency (India)|Emergency]] in Bangalore and imprisoned along with thousands of other opposition activists.

He was appointed General Secretary of the Kodagu district unit of the BJP and elevated as its president in the 1990s. In 2004, he was elected as a MLA from [[Madikeri Assembly constituency|Madikeri constituency]] as a BJP candidate.<ref name=state>{{cite news|title=Madikeri MLA inspects rain hit villages|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/11/stories/2004081105620300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040911043644/http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/11/stories/2004081105620300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2004|accessdate=28 April 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=11 August 2004}}</ref> In 2008, he was re-elected again as a BJP candidate from [[Virajpet Assembly constituency|Virajpet constituency]] after the de-limitation exercise reduced the number of seats in Kodagu district from three to two.<ref name=state2>{{cite news|title=Three way clash in Virajpet|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/01/stories/2008050153630300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506140049/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/01/stories/2008050153630300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 May 2008|accessdate=28 April 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=1 May 2008}}</ref>

He served as pro tem Speaker after the BJP victory and administered oath of office to all the members of the Legislative Assembly.<ref name=state3>{{cite news|title=Bopaiah is pro tem Speaker|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/content/Jun32008/state2008060271401.asp|accessdate=28 April 2012|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=3 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222041433/http://archive.deccanherald.com/content/Jun32008/state2008060271401.asp|archive-date=22 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later, he was unanimously elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.<ref name=state4>{{cite news|title=K.G.Bopaiah elected Deputy speaker|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/30/stories/2008073053470400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805171633/http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/30/stories/2008073053470400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 August 2008|accessdate=28 April 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=30 July 2008}}</ref> On 30 December 2009, he was elected as the [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]<ref name=state5>{{cite web|title=K.G.Bopaiah elected Karnataka Speaker|url=http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/dec/30/bopaiah-elected-karnataka-speaker.htm|publisher=Rediffnews|accessdate=28 April 2012}}</ref> following the resignation of the previous speaker, [[Jagadish Shettar]]. The election of the Speaker, however, was held under chaotic circumstances as the Opposition parties wanted the elections to be postponed due to the death of the Kannada actor [[Vishnuvardhan (actor)|Vishnuvardhan]]. However, the government went ahead with the election process and K.G. Bopaiah was elected as Speaker, defeating the Opposition candidate, T.B. Jayachandra of the [[Indian National Congress]]. He was the first person from Kodagu district to become Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

He was elected as a member of the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]] and was chosen as the pro tem speaker by the [[Governor of Karnataka]] for the floor test held on 19 May 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pro-tem-speaker-k-g-bopaiah-the-man-in-hot-seat/articleshow/64232345.cms |title=Pro tem Speaker KG Bopaiah: The man in the hot seat |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=19 May 2018 |accessdate=21 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="Virajpet Constituency Election Results 2023">{{cite news |date=5 May 2023 |title=Virajpet Constituency Election Results 2023 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/karnataka/constituency/virajpet-assembly-constituency-election-results-assembly-seat-details-mlas-candidates/articleshow/99305573.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250329044057/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/karnataka/constituency/virajpet-assembly-constituency-election-results-assembly-seat-details-mlas-candidates/articleshow/99305573.cms |archive-date=29 March 2025 |access-date=29 March 2025 |publisher=The Times of India}}</ref>

==Controversies==

In October 2011, 11 disgruntled MLAs of the ruling BJP along with some independent MLAs revolted against the leadership of [[B.S. Yeddyurappa]] and submitted a letter to the Governor withdrawing their support to the BJP Government. In a controversial move, Speaker Bopaiah disqualified the rebel MLAs and thus played a major role in the survival of the BJP Government in [[Karnataka]]. Although his decision was upheld by the [[Karnataka High Court]],<ref name=bangalore>{{cite news|title=Karnataka high court uphold disqualification|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_karnataka-high-court-upholds-disqualification-of-11-bjp-mlas_1459413|accessdate=28 April 2012|newspaper=DNA|date=29 October 2010}}</ref> it was overturned by the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref name=state9>{{cite web|title=Disqualification quashed|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sc-quashes-disqualification-of-16-karnataka-mlas/152217-37-64.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516155143/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sc-quashes-disqualification-of-16-karnataka-mlas/152217-37-64.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 May 2011|publisher=ibn network|accessdate=28 April 2012}}</ref> The Supreme Court criticised the Speaker for the haste with which he had acted during the trust vote.<ref name=state0>{{cite news|title=SC raps speaker for partisan step|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-15/bangalore/29545533_1_speaker-trust-vote-k-g-bopaiah|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521002238/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-15/bangalore/29545533_1_speaker-trust-vote-k-g-bopaiah|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 May 2011|accessdate=28 April 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=15 May 2011}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bopaiah, K. G.}}
[[Category:Speakers of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:People from Kodagu district]]
[[Category:Deputy speakers of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 2004–2007]]
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 2008–2013]]
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 2013–2018]]
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 2018–2023]]

K. G. Bopaiah - Revision history

Daljeetbhutal at 16:57, 4 October 2025