Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 8: Shobha Karandlaje has achieved a rare feat by becoming a central minister in the Modi cabinet. No other MP representing Udupi constituency has become a union minister so far.

Even though U Srinivas Mallya, who was close to Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected thrice as an MP, he did not become a union minister. T A Pai became an MP but he was made a railway minister when he was a Rajya Sanbha member. Oscar Fernandes represented this constituency five times, but became central minister in the capacity of a Rajya Sabha member.

Udupi Lok Sabha constituency, which earlier had Bantwal, Suratkal, and Mulky-Moodbidri assembly constituencies under it, was reorganized in the year 2008. Now by including Karkala assembly constituency, it has become Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency. D V Sadananda Gowda who was elected from this Lok Sabha constituency had become chief minister briefly.

Veerappa Moily was representing Chikkaballapur Lok Sabha constituency when he became union minister. He had earlier been the chief minister when representing Karkala assembly constituency.

D K Taradevi from Chikkamagaluru had become the minister but no one else got that chance from there. As such, Shobha Karandlaje has achieved a unique feat.