Deve Gowda, H. D. (1933-…), was prime minister of India from June 1996 to April 1997. He was the head of a coalition of parties called the United Front (UF), which governed with the support of the Congress party.
The coalition government led by Deve Gowda was shaky. Its continued existence depended on the support of the Congress party. When Congress decided to base its backing on certain specific issues, Deve Gowda’s government was plunged into crisis. Congress accused Deve Gowda of seeking the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After losing a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha (India’s lower house of parliament), Deve Gowda resigned.
Deve Gowda held several important posts before becoming prime minister. In 1962, Deve Gowda, at that time a member of the BJP, was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the south Indian state of Karnataka. He served as leader of the opposition in the state Assembly from 1972 to 1976 and as a cabinet member from 1983 to 1989. In 1991, he was elected to the Lok Sabha. He became leader of the Janata Dal Party in 1993 and chief minister of Karnataka in 1994. In 1996, he resigned as Karnataka chief minister to assume the post of prime minister of India.
Deve Gowda was again elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998. In 1999, the Janata Dal party split into two factions, and Deve Gowda became leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) faction. Later that year, he was defeated in his Lok Sabha reelection bid. However, in a 2002 by-election (special election to fill an empty seat), he regained a Lok Sabha seat. In 2004, he was reelected to the Lok Sabha.
Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda was born on May 18, 1933, in Haradanahalli in the Hassan district of Karnataka. The son of a farmer, he gained a diploma in civil engineering from Lakshamma Venkataswamy Occupational Institute in 1952.
