Preceded by Kagodu Thimmappa Occupation Politician | Nationality Indian Party Indian National Congress | |
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Political party Indian National Congress | ||
K. B. Koliwad is an Indian politician and a senior member of the Indian National Congress from the state of Karnataka. Koliwad is a five-term member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Koliwad was elected Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in July, 2016 which was vacated by Kagodu Thimmappa who was inducted as a minister in the Siddaramaiah led government of Karnataka. Koliwad is the 20th speaker of the lower house.
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Political life
Koliwad is from the Indian National Congress and represents Ranibennur constituency in Haveri district of Karnataka.He was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1972 beating B. C. Patil INC(O) Organizational Congress by over 11000 votes.The 1985 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections was more hard-fought as he won against Patil Basanagouda Guranagouda of the Janata Party JNP by only 700 votes narrowly winning the seat.The following election of 1989 he won against the Janata Dal candidate Karjigi Veerappa Sannatammappa by about 2800 votes.In the 1994 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections he lost to Karjagi Veerappa Sannatammappa by about 25000 votes due to the 10-year anti-incumbency of the congress rule in the state. Koliwadi once again retained the Ranibennur Legislative Assembly seat by beating Tilavalli Shivanna Gurappa of the Janata Dal (United) by about 5000 votes. In 2004 and 2008 he lost both times to Tilavalli Shivanna Gurappa who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party by then. In 2013 he won the Ranibennur Assembly seat back against R. Shankar who was an independent candidate by about 6000 votes. Koliwad is also a member of the Pradesh election committee in the Karnataka Indian National Congress.
Ministry
Koliwad was inducted into the Karnataka cabinet of ministers in the S. M. Krishna led government in 2002 as the minister of state for Drinking Water Supply. He has served in many committees in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.Besides being the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly he still holds the chairmanship of the lake committee which was in a controversy over encroachment in the areas around the lake by builders in connivance with civic officials.
Personal life
Koliwad is married and has a son Prakash Koliwad who runs a cloud-seeding company. Koliwad belongs to the Lingayat community which is the dominant caste in Karnataka.
