Sharanabasappa Darshanapur

Sharanabasappa Darshanapur has been elected from the Shahapur constituency for 5 terms in the 1994, 2004, 2008 , 2018 and 2023 Karnataka State Legislative elections. After being elected for the first time as MLA from Shahapur (Karnataka), he became the minister of state for power in 1996 under J.H. Patel Cabinet.[1] He served as the Cabinet Minister of Agricultural Marketing and Minister In-charge for undivided Gulbarga District from 18 February 2006 to 8 October 2007 in HD Kumaraswamy's First Cabinet.[2] Alongside, in 2006 he was made the Incharge Minister for the undivided Gulbarga District (which then comprised today's Kalaburagi and Yadgir Districts and was one of the largest Districts in Karnataka). In 2018, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board.[3][4][5] On February 14, 2022 he was appointed the member of KKRDB Board along with 11 other MLAs belonging to the Hyderabad Karnataka Region.[6]

In 2023 Karnataka state assembly elections, Darshanapur was re-elected as an MLA from Shahapur constituency in Yadgir district. This will be his fifth term as an MLA.[7] He was inducted into the second Siddaramaiah Cabinet as a Cabinet rank minister and Given the portfolios of Small Scale Industries and Public enterprises.[8]

Sharanabasappa Darshanapur completed his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from PDA college of Engineering Kalaburagi. Before entering into politics, he worked as an Assistant engineer in Lift Irrigation Corp. Bijapur from 1985 to 1989. In 1992, he was elected as a senate member from Engineering Graduate Constituency Gulbarga University Gulbarga. In 1996, he became the founder member & President of Sir M Vishweshwaraiah sahakar Bank Niyamitha. In 1997, he became the founder and President of The Gulbarga Engineers' Family Club Gulbarga, he is currently the Chief patron of club.[9]

He is married to Bharti Darshanapur and has one son and a daughter. His father Late Bapugouda Darshanapur was also an MLA of Shahapur for 3 terms. Late Bapu Gowda had also served as Minister for Small Scale Industries, Chief whip and Chairman of KHB.