Priyank Kharge
Priyank Kharge | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Minister, Government of Karnataka | |
| Assumed office 20 May 2023 | |
| Governor | Thawarchand Gehlot |
| Cabinet | Siddaramaiah II |
| Chief Minister | Siddaramaiah |
| Ministry |
|
| In office 8 June 2018 – 23 July 2019 | |
| Governor | Vajubhai Vala |
| Cabinet | Kumaraswamy II |
| Chief Minister | H. D. Kumaraswamy |
| Ministry | Social Welfare |
| Preceded by | H. Anjaneya |
| Succeeded by | Govind Karjol |
| Member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Valmiki Nayak |
| Constituency | Chittapur |
| Minister of State of IT & BT and Science & Technology Government of Karnataka | |
| In office 2016–2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 November 1978[1] |
| Party |  Indian National Congress |
| Parent(s) | Mallikarjun Kharge (father) Radhabai Kharge (mother) |
| Occupation | Politician |
Priyank Mallikarjun Kharge (born 22 November 1978) is an Indian politician from Indian National Congress and serving as the Cabinet Minister in the Government of Karnataka. He is a three-time Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Chittapur constituency in Kalaburagi District of Karnataka.
Early life and background
Priyank Kharge was born to Mallikarjun Kharge and Radhabai Kharge on 22 November 1978. His father is the current Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha.[2][3] According to MyNeta he has completed his schooling from MES College, Malleswaram from 1996 to 1998.[4]
Personal life
Kharge is married to Shruti Kharge. He is an Ambedkarite and a Buddhist.[5]
Political career
Kharge entered into the politics as an activist of the National Students' Union of India in 1998. In 1999, he became the NSUI College General Secretary. Later in 2001, he started serving as NSUI State General Secretary till 2005. He was also the Secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress from 2005 to 2007. He served as a Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress General Secretary from 2007 to 2011.
Kharge entered electoral politics by contesting Chittapur in the 2009 Karnataka Assembly by-election but was defeated by Valmiki Nayak of Bharatiya Janata Party.
In 2011, he was elected as Vice President of Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress, till 2014.
He was then elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 2013.
In 2016, at the age of 38, he became the youngest minister to be sworn into the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s cabinet as the Minister of IT, BT & Tourism. He has also served as a Cabinet Minister of Social Welfare in the coalition Government headed by H D Kumaraswamy.[6]
In 2018, he again won from Chittapur and was made the Social Welfare Minister under H.D. Kumaraswamy led Congress – JD(S) Coalition Government.[7][8]
In 2023, he won from Chittapur once again, this time pitted against BJP's Manikanta Rathod, and is currently serving the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology.[9]
Positions held
Priyank Kharge entered politics as an activist of the National Students' Union of India in 1998.
- 1999: NSUI College General Secretary
- 2001–2005: State NSUI General Secretary
- 2005–2007: Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Secretary.
- 2007–2011: Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress General Secretary
- 2011–2014: Elected as Vice President of Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress
| # | From | To | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2013 | 2018 | MLA (1st term) from Chittapur
|
| 2. | 2018 | 2023 | MLA (2nd term) from Chittapur
|
| 3. | 2023 | Present | MLA (3rd term) from Chittapur
|
Currently, Priyank Kharge is the Chairman of IT and Data for the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
[12] As the Information Technology Minister, Kharge has introduced a Startup Booster Kit which has facilities like access to mentors, cloud credits and incubators. In 2017 he started Bengaluru Tech Summit to boost the tech industry.[13][14]
References
- ^ "Priyank Kharge: Age, Biography, Education, Wife, Caste, Net Worth & More - Oneindia".
- ^ Centre, National Informatics. "Digital Sansad". Digital Sansad. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Escaping Blaze at 7 to Congress Chief at 80, Mallikarjun Kharge's Firefighting Continues".
- ^ "Priyank Kharge-Indian national Congress".
- ^ "Priyank Kharge: Today's India is not what any of our founding fathers had dreamt of, says Priyank Kharge | Bengaluru News - Times of India".
- ^ "minister with Independent Charge". kla.kar.nic.in.
- ^ "Priyank began his political career in NSUI". The Hindu. 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Sitting and previous MLAs from Chittapur Assembly Constituency". elections.in.
- ^ "Priyank Kharge: Karnataka election results 2023: Priyank Kharge of Congress wins from Chittapur". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Priyank Kharge sworn in as Minister for second time". The Hindu. 20 May 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Announce 5-Day Work Week: Karnataka Minister's Request To HD Kumaraswamy". NDTV.com. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ Balasubramanyam, K. R. "Information Technology and Bio-Technology Minister". The Economic Times.
- ^ "Karnataka now has launched a Startup Booster Kit – Here's what is in it". businessinsider.in.
- ^ "Karnataka plans startup booster kit". Deccan Herald. 6 July 2016.
