How did HD Deve Gowda became Prime Minister?

In the 1996 general elections, no party won enough seats to form a government. When the United Front, a coalition of regional parties, formed the central government with the support of the Congress, Deve Gowda was unexpectedly chosen to head the government and was elected Prime Minister.

How old is HD Deve Gowda?

88 years (May 18, 1933)
H. D. Deve Gowda/Age

Who is the oldest Prime Minister of India?

He is the oldest person to hold the office of prime minister, at the age of 81, in the history of Indian politics.

How did Gowda become the Chief Minister of Karnataka?

In 1994 Gowda assumed leadership over the Janata Dal party and became Karnataka’s chief minister. In the parliamentary elections held in 1996, the United Front (a Janata Dal-led 13-party coalition) formed a government at the centre with the support of the Congress (I) Party in order to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party from coming to power.

How many terms did Gowda serve in the Assembly?

He served as a member of the assembly for four consecutive terms, during which he became known as a champion for the disadvantaged. Gowda was imprisoned during the Indian Emergency (1975–77; the period when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi suspended the constitution and ruled by decree).

Who was the new Prime Minister of India in 1997?

Gowda was sworn in as the new prime minister. His tenure, however, was short-lived. In April 1997 the Congress (I) Party withdrew its support for the coalition. The reason given was that, although Gowda’s minority United Front government was dependent upon the Congress, the prime minister did not consult the party regarding important matters.

What is the background of Gowda?

Born into a Vokkaligas family, Gowda was raised in that subcaste’s agricultural tradition. He earned a degree in civil engineering in 1952 from a polytechnic school in Mysore state (which was renamed Karnataka in 1973) and then worked as a contractor.