Three-term MLA, Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi, from Bijapur in Karnataka, was sworn in as a Minister of State in the Modi government today as part of the cabinet reshuffle. WATCH: Analysing Modi Cabinet Reshuffle: Smriti Irani Loses HRD; Javadekar, Piyush Goyal Gain Jigajinagi, 64, has an MA degree and was a big supporter of Ramakrishna Hegde. He became a member of the Janata Dal and contested assembly elections for the first time from Karnataka on a Janata Dal ticket. Jigajinagi went on to switch parties several times, however he remained a popular scheduled caste leader from his constituency. The newly sworn in cabinet minister has been an MLA from the Karnataka Assembly between 1983 and 1998, he has also been MoS, Home Department, Government of Karnataka in 1983, MoS, Excise Department in the Government of Karnataka 1984-1985, Cabinet Minister for Social Welfare and Revenue in the Government of Karnataka 1996-1998, Member of the Lok Sabha from 1998 to present. WATCH VIDEO: Keystrokes - Smriti Irani Gets Textiles Jigajinagi has also served as a member of the following committees: Consultative Committee, Ministry of Finance, Parliamentary Committee on Absence of Members from the sittings of the House, Parliamentary Committee on Commerce, Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs and its Sub-Committee on Personnel Policy of Central Para-Military Forces.
