GeorgiannaStrand at 20:03, 1 May 2026

2026-05-01T20:03:21Z

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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = 
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang = 
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption =
| office = Member of the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start = 15 May 2018
| predecessor = [[Y. Ramakka]]
| successor =
}}
'''M. Roopakala Shashidhar''' (born 20 June 1979) is an Indian politician from [[Karnataka]]. She is a member of the 2023 [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]] representing [[Kolar Gold Field Assembly constituency|Kolar Gold Fields constituency]] in [[Kolar district]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-14 |title=Karnataka Assembly Election Results 2023: Full list of winners - India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/karnataka-assembly-polls-2023/story/karnataka-assembly-election-results-2023-full-list-of-winners-2378524-2023-05-13 |access-date=2024-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514043110/https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/karnataka-assembly-polls-2023/story/karnataka-assembly-election-results-2023-full-list-of-winners-2378524-2023-05-13 |archive-date=14 May 2023 }}</ref> She won on an [[Indian National Congress]] ticket.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roopakala M |url=https://prsindia.org/mlatrack/roopakala-m |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=PRS Legislative Research |language=en-US}}</ref> She defeated Ashwini Sampangi of BJP by 50,467 votes. In January 2024, she was appointed the chairperson of the Karnataka Handicrafts Industrial Development Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-27 |title=To placate, keep dissent in check, Congress govt in Karnataka appoints board, corporation chiefs |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/to-placate-keep-dissent-in-check-congress-govt-in-karnataka-appoints-board-corporation-chiefs-9129710/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Karnataka: 34 MLAs made chiefs of boards, Shanti Nagar MLA gets BDA">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=27 January 2024 |title=Karnataka: 34 MLAs made chiefs of boards, Shanti Nagar MLA gets BDA |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Jan/27/karnataka-34-mlas-made-chiefs-of-boards-shanti-nagar-mla-gets-bda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120155042/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Jan/27/karnataka-34-mlas-made-chiefs-of-boards-shanti-nagar-mla-gets-bda |archive-date=20 January 2025 |access-date=20 January 2025 |publisher=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name="34 MLAs appointed as heads to govt.-owned boards and corporations in Karnataka">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=26 January 2024 |title=34 MLAs appointed as heads to govt.-owned boards and corporations in Karnataka |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/34-mlas-appointed-as-heads-to-govt-owned-boards-and-corporations-in-karnataka/article67780204.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731093326/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/34-mlas-appointed-as-heads-to-govt-owned-boards-and-corporations-in-karnataka/article67780204.ece |archive-date=31 July 2024 |access-date=20 January 2025 |publisher=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name="34 MLAs given chairman posts for boards and corps, Haris BDA chairman">{{cite news |date=27 January 2024 |title=34 MLAs given chairman posts for boards and corps, Haris BDA chairman |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/34-mlas-given-chairman-posts-for-boards-and-corporations-haris-bda-chairman/articleshow/107175062.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120154826/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/34-mlas-given-chairman-posts-for-boards-and-corporations-haris-bda-chairman/articleshow/107175062.cms |archive-date=20 January 2025 |access-date=20 January 2025 |publisher=The Times of India |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Roopakala is the daughter of [[K. H. Muniyappa|K.H. Muniyappa]], a seven-time Member of Parliament.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-14 |title=Karnataka assembly elections 2023 results: Amid twists & turns, families taste victory |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/karnataka-assembly-elections-2023-results-amid-twists-turns-families-taste-victory/articleshow/100220311.cms |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> She finished her post-graduation in arts from Karnataka State Open University in 2016. Her husband Shashidhar J. E. works as a director in the Karnataka assembly secretariat.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-02 |title=Husband alleges bid to harmKGF MLA's poll prospects |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/husband-alleges-bid-to-harmkgf-mlas-poll-prospects/articleshow/99920884.cms |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

Her father Muniyappa, agreed to be dropped from the current Congress ministry to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Kolar, provided his daughter Roopakala is accommodated in the cabinet.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DHNS |title=K H Muniyappa among 3 ministers in Congress ticket shortlist |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/muniyappa-among-3-ministers-in-cong-ticket-shortlist-2881163 |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | date=2024-03-07 |title=LS polls: Congress likely to field 3 Ministers in reserved constituencies |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/ls-polls-congress-likely-to-field-3-ministers-in-reserved-constituencies/article67924909.ece |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Controversy ==
In June 2023, inaugurating the government Shakti scheme of free travel for women, she drove a bus for a short distance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DHNS |title=MLA Roopakala drives bus in KGF |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/mla-roopakala-drives-bus-in-kgf-1226939.html |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> After criticism for allowing the MLA to drive the bus, KSRTC Kolar division ordered an inquiry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goudar |first=Mahesh M. |date=2023-06-13 |title=KGF MLA Roopakala draws criticism for driving KSRTC bus during launch of Shakti scheme |url=https://thesouthfirst.com/karnataka/kgf-mla-roopakala-driving-ksrtc-bus-shakti-launch/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=The South First |language=en}}</ref> She declared assets worth Rs.8 [[crore]] before the assembly elections.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roopakala M(Indian National Congress(INC)):Constituency- KOLAR GOLD FIELD(KOLAR) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://myneta.info/karnataka2018/candidate.php?candidate_id=5916 |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=myneta.info}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roopakala, M.}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:Women members of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Karnataka MLAs 2023–2028]]

M. Roopakala - Revision history

GeorgiannaStrand at 20:03, 1 May 2026