U. T. Khader

U. T. Khader Fareed is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the 23rd Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, since May 2023. He previously served as the Cabinet Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Food, Civil Suplies and Consumer Affairs and also for Urban Development and Housing in Government of Karnataka.

Khader is a fourth-term MLA representing the Mangalore constituency (previously known as the Ullal) of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

He is a member of the Indian National Congress and was the only Congress MLA to win from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in the 2018 State election.

He defeated Santosh Kumar Rai of BJP by a margin of 19,739 votes.

Early life
Khader was born and brought up in Uppala, Kasargod. His mother is Naseema and his father is the Haji U. T. Fareed. He has three brothers and one sister.

Political career
He was the Minister for Health and Family Welfare of Karnataka from 20 May 2013 to 20 June 2016 as part of the Siddaramaiah cabinet.

Khader previously served as the deputy opposition leader of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.