N Dharam Singh, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, passes away

N. Dharam Singh, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, passed away on 27 July 2017 Bengaluru following a heart attack. He was 80.

Singh had served as the 17th Chief Minister of Karnataka. He headed the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government from May 2004 to February 2006.

About N Dharam Singh

• Born on 25 December 1936, Dharam Singh Narayan Singh was an Indian politician.

• He was a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for seven consecutive terms and a Member of Parliament representing Bidar in the 14th Lok Sabha.

• He began his long innings in politics as an Independent Corporator in the Kalaburagi district City Municipal Council by contesting against his own brother.

• In the late 1960s, he joined the Indian National Congress and remained a staunch loyalist since then.

• He served as a minister under various Chief Ministers such as Devaraj Urs, R. Gundu Rao, S. Bangarappa, M. Veerappa Moily and S. M. Krishna.

• He also handled diverse portfolios such as Home, Excise, Social Welfare, Urban Development and Revenue.

• 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) parties decided to come together and form a coalition government. Dharam Singh was the unanimous choice of both parties to head the government.

• He was sworn in as Chief Minister on 28 May 2004. He was the second leader from Kalaburgi to become Chief Minister after Veerendra Patil.