U. T. Khader

U. T. Khader Fareed is an Indian politician and member of the Indian National Congress. He is currently serving as the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, and, since 12 August 2026, as the Minister for Minority Affairs, Haj and Waqf, Government of Karnataka. He previously served as the 17th Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from May 2023 to June 2026.

Khader previously served as a Cabinet Minister holding the portfolios of Health and Family Welfare, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, and Urban Development and Housing in the Government of Karnataka.

Khader is a multi-term MLA representing the Mangalore constituency, formerly known as the Ullal Assembly constituency, in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. He first entered the Assembly through the Ullal by-election in 2007 following the death of his father, U. T. Fareed, and subsequently represented Mangalore after the constituency was reorganised.

He is a senior leader of the Indian National Congress from Dakshina Kannada district. He has held several important constitutional and ministerial positions in Karnataka, including Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and Cabinet Minister.

In June 2026, Khader resigned from the office of Speaker and was inducted into the Government of Karnataka as Minister for Health and Family Welfare following the formation of the government headed by Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar. He assumed the Health and Family Welfare portfolio in June 2026. Contemporary reports confirmed his return to the Health portfolio after previously holding the same department from 2013 to 2016.

On 12 August 2026, Khader was additionally assigned responsibility for Minority Affairs and Haj in the Government of Karnataka.

Early life and education

U. T. Khader was born on 12 October 1969 in Uppala, Kasargod, Kerala State, to former MLA U. T. Fareed and Naseema. He later became politically active in Dakshina Kannada and entered public life through the student wing of the Indian National Congress.

He studied at St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru and subsequently completed his law education at SDM Law College, Mangaluru. He is an advocate by profession.

Political career

Khader began his political career through the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Indian National Congress. He subsequently held organisational positions within the Congress and its affiliated organisations in Dakshina Kannada.

Following the death of his father, U. T. Fareed, Khader contested the 2007 by-election from the Ullal constituency and was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Following constituency reorganisation, he represented the Mangalore constituency from 2008 onwards.

He was re-elected in the 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. In the 2018 Assembly election, he defeated BJP candidate Santosh Kumar Rai by a margin of 19,739 votes. In the 2023 Assembly election, he defeated BJP candidate Sathish Kumpala by a margin of 22,977 votes.

Ministerial career

Health and Family Welfare

Khader first served as Karnataka's Minister for Health and Family Welfare from 20 May 2013 to 20 June 2016 in the Siddaramaiah government.

During his tenure, his department was associated with initiatives including the expansion of dialysis services in government hospitals and the introduction of bike ambulance services. He later returned to the Health and Family Welfare portfolio in June 2026 after serving as Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs

From June 2016 to 2018, Khader served as Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in the Government of Karnataka.

Urban Development and Housing

In June 2018, Khader joined the Congress–Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government and served as Minister for Urban Development and Housing until July 2019. During this period, he was associated with urban development initiatives including the Mangaluru Smart City programme.

Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly

On 24 May 2023, Khader was unanimously elected as the 17th Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. He served as Speaker until 3 June 2026, when he resigned the position to join the Karnataka Cabinet.

Khader became the first Muslim to serve as Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Minority Affairs

Following the change in the Karnataka government in June 2026, Khader was inducted into the Cabinet and assigned the Health and Family Welfare portfolio.

On 12 August 2026, he was additionally assigned the portfolio of Minority Affairs and Haj, giving him responsibility for both health administration and minority welfare-related affairs in the state.

As of August 2026, he therefore serves as:

Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka Minister for Minority Affairs and Haj, Government of Karnataka

Electoral history

Khader has represented the coastal Karnataka region continuously since his first electoral victory in the Ullal by-election in 2007.

He won the 2018 Karnataka Assembly election from Mangalore by 19,739 votes over BJP candidate Santosh Kumar Rai.

In the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election, he defeated BJP candidate Sathish Kumpala by 22,977 votes.

Personal life

Khader is the son of former Ullal MLA U. T. Fareed and Naseema. He has been associated with public service and political activities in Dakshina Kannada for several decades.

He has also been known for his interest in motorsports and has participated in motorcycle racing events at state and national levels.