M. Rajasekara Murthy

M. Rajasekara Murthy (10 May 1922 – 5 December 2010) was an Indian politician, who was a member 7th Lok Sabha the lower house of the Indian Parliament from the Lok Sabha constituency of Mysore in Karnataka. He also participated in the Freedom Struggle.

Rajasekara Murthy was born on May 10, 1922, at Malangi Village in T. Narasipur Taluk of Mysore District. Shri Madappa was his father.

M. Rajasekara Murthy married Shrimati M. Rajamma (since deceased) and couple had 5 daughters.

• Director in many public limited and private limited companies.
• President of Co-operative Bank.
• Honorary Secretary of various educational institutions, and hostels.
• Secretary of Karnataka Congress Legislature Party.
• Treasurer of Karnataka Congress (O) Legislature Party.
• Member of various committees of Karnataka Legislature.

Murthy had held several senior cabinet minister positions in Karnataka Government including the important portfolios of Excise, Industry, Finance and Revenue. He was also a union minister under the then former prime minister Sri PV Narasimha Rao's cabinet.

A close follower of former Congress President S. Nijalingappa and a close associate of former Chief Minister Veerendra Patil, Murthy had served in their Ministries and also with M. Veerappa Moily, before he moved to Rajya Sabha.

He was regarded as one of the most powerful Lingayat leaders, a powerful community dominating the political scenario of the State.

He was a member of Lok Sabha once and represented Rajya Sabha thrice with Congress, BJP and JD(S) party tickets during the last three terms. He was a Minister of State (independent charge) holding the Ministries of Surface Transport and Ports in the P.V. Narasimha Rao Ministry.

Known for his discipline and administrative acumen, Murthy revived the financial position of Karnataka when he took over as Finance Minister when Veerendra Patil became the Chief Minister for the second time in 1989. It was during Veerappa Moily's regime as CM that Murthy as Revenue Minister unearthed landscam in Mysore taluk, which led to suspension and sacking of government officials for colluding with land grabbers, creating fictitious documents.

He was the cousin brother of former Union Minister M.S. Gurupadaswamy.

Entering the first Assembly in 1952 from T. Narasipura constituency, he was elected to Assembly again five times.

A close aide of the then Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa, Murthy became the Minister for Commerce and Industry.

Opposition Leader Siddharamaiah was once a contender for Chamundeswari seat represented by Murthy. It was in 1989 that Murthy of Congress defeated Siddharamaiah of JD(S) by 6892 votes. Murthy got 42,892 votes, while Siddu 36,000 votes.

Murthy has been the Member of Parliament-Rajya Sabha many times. He won one of the Rajya Sabha seats by defeating the business tycoon Vijaya Mallya. Mallya was very confident about his win due to his wealth but did not consider the factor that people and their representatives trusted Mr. Murthy and his principles and taught Dr. Vijaya Mallya that his money, power and lobby were as good as his Kingfisher Airlines against the loyalty and trust Mr. Murthy commanded.

He was a known party hopper. Initially he was with Congress, but later joined BJP followed by JD(S). He was known for being relatively self-controlled and abrasive. This irritated the high command of their respective parties, who gave into corruption and bribery. Hence he was frequently troubled and had to shift parties. He had to become the CM of Karnataka back in the early 1990s but was denied the change due to the immoral administration of his superiors and peers. Mr. Murthy was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and his values, unlike his superiors.

Murthy died on 5 December 2010 in Delhi. His body was taken to Bangalore and the state funeral was held at Chamrajanagar on 7 December 2010.

• Profile on Rajya Sabha website