# Ramesh Jigajinagi

Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi (born 28 June 1952) is an Indian politician from Karnataka and currently a member of Lok Sabha. He was Union Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation in 2016. He was member of the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Lok Sabha. He was inducted into PM, Narendra Modi's government as a Minister of State for Drinking Water & Sanitation on July 5, 2016. He represents the Bijapur constituency (2019–2024) and is currently a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party which he joined in 2002. He has also been a member of Janata Dal and Ramakrishna Hegde's Vedike Party and Ram Vilas Paswan's Jan Shakti Party in 2001 when Hegde was planning to retire.

## Early life and education

Ramesh Jigajinagi was born on 28 June 1952 in Atharga village of Bijapur District in Karnataka to Chandappa and Bhoramma Jigajinagi. He married Shoba and has two sons, Vinod and Anand, both businessmen. He completed his B.A from BLDEA's New Arts College, Bijapur and later earned his master's degree. Ramesh is a dalit and hails from a Scheduled Caste community.

## Career

He has been able to retain support in northern Karnataka, even after switching parties. His electoral victory is significant, contesting and winning his seat against B. Shankaranand of the Indian National Congress'. Ramesh entered the 12th Lok Sabha with a margin of 1,31,238 votes.
Initially, he joined the undivided Janata Dal under the mentorship of Ramakrishna Hegde Sir. He remained in the Janatha Dal and was a staunch supporter of Ramakrishna Hegde. When Ramakrishna Hegde floated the Rashtreeya Nava Nirmana Vedike, he was among the earliest sitting MLAs to support him and join the new party by resigning his ministership. Later, he joined Lok Shakti, a party formed by Ramakrishna Hegde and rejoined Janata Dal United after the merger of Lok Shakti with the former. After the death of his mentor, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was elected as MP for five times without a break.
He was elected as an MP for the first time in 1996 from Chikkodi, a constituency reserved from SC community, on Lok Shakti ticket. In 1998, he won again on Janata Dal ticket and on BJP ticket in 2004, both from Chikkodi. Later, he returned to Bijapur, his native after Chikkodi became an unreserved seat. From then on he won the Bijapur SC seat, which is now Vijayapura.

## Positions held

* Member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly 1983- 1985, 1985–1989, 1994-1999 (3 terms)
* Minister of State, Home Department in the Government of Karnataka 1983
* Minister of State, Excise Department in the Government of Karnataka 1984–1985
* Cabinet Minister for Social Welfare and Revenue in the Government of Karnataka 1996–1998
* Member of the 12th Loksabha 1998-1999 (Winning Margin=131238). From Chikkodi on Lok Shakti ticket.
* Member of the 13th Lok Sabha 1999-2004 (Winning Margin=84590)
* Member of the 14th Lok Sabha 2004-2009 (Winning Margin=43492), for BJP.
* Member of the 15th Lok Sabha 2009-2014 (Winning Margin=42404) From Bijapur.
* Member of the 16th Lok Sabha 2014- 2019 (Winning Margin=69819)
* Member of the 17th Lok Sabha 2019 - 2024 (Winning Margin = 2,58,038)
* Member of the 18th Lok Sabha 2024 - (Winning Margin = 77229)
* He has served as the member in the following committees
* Parliamentary Consultative Committee, Ministry of Finance
* Parliamentary Committee on Absence of Members from the sittings of the House
* Parliamentary Committee on Commerce
* Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs and its Sub-Committee on Personnel Policy of Central Para-Military Forces
* Union Minister of State for Drinking Water & Sanitation 2016