N. Somana

Nidyamale Somanna (15 April 1905 – 25 January 1958) was an Indian politician and lawyer. He was an Indian National Congress leader in Coorg State and served as the Member of Parliament for the state in the first legislature after the independence of India.

Personal life Born in Bhagamandala on 15 April 1905, N. Somana was the son of N. Ramapa, a civil servant. He belonged to the Arebhashe Gowda community. He was schooled at Central High School in Mercara, later studying at St. Aloysius College in Mangalore and Madras Law College.

Coorg legislator N. Somana served as member of the Coorg Legislative Council from 1945 until the dissolution of Coorg State. In parliament he became a member of the Committee on Home Affairs and the Committee on Planning and Communications. He was a member of the Indian Coffee Board, but resigned in 1957.

Mysore State legislator After the merger of Coorg into Mysore State, N. Somana was elected to the Mysore State Legislative Assembly in the 1957 election. He stood as the Indian National Congress candidate in the Periyapatna constituency. N. Somana obtained 19,714 votes (68.08%).

N. Somana died from a heart attack on 25 January 1958 in Mercara. After his death a by-election for the Periyapatna seat was held, won by Indian National Congress candidate K.M. Devayya.

N. Somana is one of only two politicians from Kodagu district (Coorg) to have been elected to the Lok Sabha, the other politician being former Coorg State Chief Minister C.M. Poonacha, who got elected from Mangalore Lok Sabha constituency in 1967, when Kodagu district was under Mangalore Lok Sabha constituency.