V. Somanna

Veeranna Somanna is an Indian politician currently serving as Union Minister of State (MoS) in Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. He was the minister of housing and Infrastructure Development department of Karnataka from 4 August 2021 to 13 May 2023. He was Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Govindraj Nagara constituency from May 2018 to 13 May 2023.

On 10 June 2016, he was re-elected to the Karnataka Legislative Council. He secured 31 votes of BJP MLAs. In March 2024, he was announced as the BJP candidate for the Tumkur constituency in the 2024 General Elections. He went on to win the Lok Sabha election from Tumkur and was subsequently appointed the Minister of State of Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Personal life Somanna was born on 20 July 1951 to Veeranna and Kempamma in Doddamaralavadi of Bangalore South district, Karnataka in a Veerashaiva family. He is married to Shailaja and has three children.

Positions held Source: 1983 - 1987: Elected to Bangalore Mahanagara Palike 1994 - MLA from Binnypet on Janata Dal ticket 1996 - 1999: Minister for Prisons, Minister for Bangalore Urban Development 1999 - Elected from Binnypet as an Independent 2004 - Elected for a third time on a Congress ticket 2008 - Elected from Govindarajan nagar on a Congress ticket 2010 - 2018: Member of Karnataka Legislative Council 2018– 2023: Elected for a second time on a BJP ticket 2019 - 2020: Minister of Horticulture and Sericulture 2021 -2023: Minister for Housing and Minister for Infrastructure and Development 2024 - present: Serves as the Union Minister of State for Railways in India.