K. R. Ramesh Kumar: Difference between revisions

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Ramesh Kumar is a six-term member of the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]] from [[Srinivasapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Srinivaspur]] assembly constituency in Kolar district. He met Devaraj Urs during student days and was encouraged to join politics. In 1994, he became Speaker of the assembly for his first experience with that post. In June 2016, Ramesh Kumar was inducted into the [[Siddaramaiah cabinet|Siddaramaiah led government]] of Karnataka as a cabinet minister. Ramesh Kumar held the Health and Family Welfare Ministry portfolio in the [[Government of Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kla.kar.nic.in/assembly/ministry.htm |title=Health and Family Welfare Department |publisher=kla.kar.nic.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/kagodu-gets-revenue-ramesh-kumar-given-health/article8757793.ece |title=Kagodu gets Revenue, Ramesh Kumar given Health |publisher=thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu |date=2016-06-22 |last1=Prabhu |first1=Nagesh }}</ref> He was elected unopposed as the speaker of [[15th Karnataka Legislative Assembly]] in 2018 after [[JD(S)]] and [[Congress]] unity.

Ramesh Kumar is from the [[Indian National Congress|INC]] and represents  [[Srinivaspur]] constituency of [[Kolar district]], [[Karnataka]]. Ramesh Kumar started his political career in the seventies with the [[Indian National Congress|INC]]. He later joined the [[Janata Party|JP]] in the mid-1980s, and joined the [[Janata Dal]] in the 1990s. In the early 2000s he came back into the [[Indian National Congress|INC]].

*Ramesh Kumar won his first [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]] election in [[1978 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1978]] by beating R. G. Narayanareddy by over 18,000 votes. Ramesh Kumar fought on an [[Indian National Congress|INC]] ticket. Devaraj Urs had encouraged him to join politics.  

*In the following [[1994 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|1994]] election Ramesh Kumar stood on a [[Janata Dal|JD]] ticket and won the seat by about 4,000 votes defeating G. K. Venkata Shiva Reddy of the [[Indian National Congress|INC]]. He was elected Speaker of the assembly, his first stint in that post, making him the Brahmin face of a party with a strong Vokkaliga base.<ref>https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-politics/ramesh-kumar-retraces-career-as-he-quits-as-speaker-750506.html {{Bare URL inline|date=November 2021}}</ref>

Besides holding the  Health and Family Welfare Ministry portfolio Ramesh Kumar in his forty-year political career has held many posts in the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]] and the [[Government of Karnataka]]. Ramesh Kumar was the Speaker of the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]] from 27.12.1994 to 24.10.1999.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kumaraswamy-criticises-former-speaker-ramesh-kumar/article4634057.ece |title=Kumaraswamy criticises former Speaker Ramesh Kumar |publisher=thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu |date=2013-04-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/listshow/52830155.cms |title=Karnataka cabinet reshuffle: Know your new ministers|date=20 June 2016|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=11 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/ramesh-kumar-may-contest-from-bangalore-south/article323008.ece |title=Ramesh Kumar may contest from Bangalore South |publisher=thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu |date=2009-03-03 }}</ref>

In 2019, Ramesh Kumar made an insensitive and crass humor statement in the Assembly where he compared himself with a rape survivor having to go repeated questioning during the discussion on the controversial audio clips that allegedly mentioning his name for taking Rs. 50 crore.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Karnataka-assembly-speaker-Ramesh-Kumar-compares-himself-with-a-rape-survivor/articleshow/67964182.cms|title=Karnataka assembly speaker Ramesh Kumar compares himself with a rape survivor|date=February 12, 2019|first=Sandeep|last=Moudgal|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref> After facing backlash from various women legislators, activists and media, he apologized to the MLAs later, clarifying it as a media hype.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/speakers-remark-on-rape-condemned/article26262572.ece|title=Speaker's remark on rape condemned|date=2019-02-14|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-02-04|others=Special Correspondent|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/i-m-sorry-media-hyped-it-karnataka-assembly-speaker-on-his-rape-remark-1455596-2019-02-14|title=I'm sorry, media hyped it: Karnataka assembly speaker on his rape remark|date=February 14, 2019|first=Nolan|last=Pinto|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>