Third generation of Bommai family begins networking

SHIGGAON: The third generation (3G) of the SR Bommai family, which has already produced two chief ministers, is now active on the ground. Bharath, son of incumbent chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, is managing his father’s campaign in Shiggaon in Haveri district.
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In a country where multiple generations of many families are members of state assemblies or Parliament, examples of a parent and child both becoming chief ministers of a state is hardly a surprise.
Karnataka itself has two families where fathers and sons have already become CMs — HD Deve Gowda-Kumaraswamy and SR Bommai-Basavaraj. While the third generation of the Gowda family has already plunged into politics — Nikhil Kumaraswamy andHD Revanna’s sons Suraj and Prajwal — Bharath appears to have laid the groundwork for the Bommais, although he did not immediately concede to it.
At the moment, the entrepreneur in Bharath still pips the politician: An engineering graduate from Purdue University (2007-2011), Bharat obtained a Masters’ degree in innovation and entrepreneurship from Singapore University (2013-14) and is involved with multiple industries in Dharwad and Bengaluru.
In between hectic campaigning in Shiggaon, Bharathtold TOI: “As the party [BJP] has entrusted more responsibilities to him [Basavaraj Bommai] this time, I’m spending more time than usual in his constituency. I’m going to each village and doing a door-todoor campaign. I have travelled across the constituency, and you have seen for yourself the response we’ve been getting. My mother and uncle have also been working in the constituency.”
That his father was also keen on becoming an entrepreneur and had even worked in Tata Motors before entering politics is a similarity that’s more than apparent.
“I’m an industrialist by profession and I have a lot of ideas which need implementing. Shiggaon is a pro-development constituency and my father’s priorities of educating people and ensuring that there are local industries toemploy them has resonated with the people across the segment,” he said.
Notwithstanding his current focus, the fact that he may be lured full-time into politics is not lost on Bharath. “I’m someone who believes in living in the present. As of now, I am looking to grow industries I am part of and consolidate them,” he said. “Where I land up in the future will depend on destiny. My father too was an industrialist, and he initially did not know if he would enter politics. But he eventually did and now he is chief minister.”
While “destiny” might decide whether he follows in his father and grandfather’s footsteps, Bharath doesn’t come across as a political novice to anyone following him on the campaign trail. There’s intent in his speeches, conviction in his luring of voters and more importantly, clarity in thought.