When New Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Turned His House Into A Covid Care Centre

After what was seen as a political earthquake in Karnataka that saw Lingayat strongman and veteran BJP leader BS Yediyurappa ousted as Chief Minister, on the second anniversary of his government the dust is slowly settling.

The Chief Minister-designate is Basavaraj Somappa Bommai, a Yediyurappa loyalist, who was the state Home Minister until a few days ago.

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Turned his house into a COVID hospital

A couple of months back, when Karnataka, like many other states, was experiencing a shortage of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, Bommai had made headlines after he handed over his house in his assembly constituency for it to be used as a Covid Care Centre.

The house, located at Shiggaon in Haveri district, had the facility to accommodate 50 Covid patients and was equipped with oxygen supply.

Along with the necessary medical equipment, the beds were placed on the verandah. 50 oxygen concentrators were installed at each bedside to supply oxygen to the patients.

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Bommai represents Shiggaon constituency in the assembly and his family lives in Hubballi, and he stays at the house on his constituency visits.

SR Bommai case

He is the son of former Karnataka Chief Minister SR Bommai.

SR Bommai is most know for a landmark Supreme Court ruling on Article 356 of the Constitution of India, which allowed the President's rule to be imposed over states.

Just days after he became the CM, 20 members of the Janata Dal defected and with the SR Bommai government falling short of a majority, the governor recommended President's rule in Karnataka.

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Bommai challenged this in the Karnataka High Court, and later in the Supreme Court.

In March 1994, a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court issued the historic order, which said that the power of the President to dismiss a State government is not absolute. The verdict said the President should exercise the power only after his proclamation is approved by both Houses of Parliament. Till then, the Court said, the President can only suspend the Legislative Assembly by suspending the provisions of the Constitution relating to the Legislative Assembly.

From Janata Dal to BJP

Like his father, the incoming chief minister also began his political career with the Janat Dal, before switching over to the BJP in 2008.

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A mechanical engineer by qualification, Bommai worked with Tata Motors before taking the political plunge.

In his Janata Dal days, Bommai was a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council, twice (in 1997 and 2003) from Dharwad local authorities constituency.

He had also served as Political Secretary to Chief Minister J H Patel and as Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the council.

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Bommai had served as Minister for Water Resources and Cooperation in the first BJP government and until now was in charge of Home Affairs at the beginning of the second term of Yediyurappa. He was subsequently given Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Legislature as additional portfolios during the cabinet reshuffle a few months ago.

With this Bommai become the second father-son duo to become Karnataka CMs after HD Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy.