Bhageerathi Murulya

Bhagirathi Murulya is an Indian politician who was first elected to office in 2023  as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly representing the Sullia constituency. She is a member of the women's and children's welfare committee. This seat had previously been held for six terms by Angara S., before Murulya was selected as a BJP candidate. Murulya belongs to the Tulu-speaking Adi Dravida community, and she was the poorest candidate to win a seat in the assembly. Murulya had worked as a tailor and a teacher before becoming a MLA. Murulya took the oath in the name of her family deity.

Murulya, the BJP candidate  secured the seventh consecutive victory for her party in Sullia,  and became the first Dalit woman from Tulu Nadu to enter the legislative assembly. Sullia, one of 19 assembly segments in coastal Karnataka, was the only reserved constituency for a scheduled caste candidate in the election. She defeated her closest rival, Krishnappa from the Congress party, by 30,864 votes, and took 57% of the vote share. Murulya had previously served as a member of the councils (panchayat) for Dakshina Kannada zilla and Sullia taluk.