V. Somanna

Veeranna Somanna is an Indian politician currently serving as Union Minister of State (MoS) in Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. He was the minister of housing and Infrastructure Development department of Karnataka from 4 August 2021 to 13 May 2023. He was Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Govindraj Nagara constituency from May 2018 to 13 May 2023.

On 10 June 2016, he was re-elected to the Karnataka Legislative Council. He secured 31 votes of BJP MLAs. In March 2024, he was announced as the BJP candidate for the Tumkur constituency in the 2024 General Elections. He went on to win the Lok Sabha election from Tumkur and was subsequently appointed as the Minister of State of Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Personal life
Somanna was born on 20 July 1951 to Veeranna and Kempamma in Doddamaralavadi of Ramanagar district, Karnataka. He is married to Shailaja and has three children.

Positions held
Source:
 * 1983 - 1987: Elected to Bangalore Mahanagara Palike
 * 1994 - MLA from Binnypet on Janata Dal ticket
 * 1996 - 1999: Minister for Prisons, Minister for Bangalore Urban Development
 * 1999 - Elected from Binnypet as an Independent
 * 2004 - Elected for a third time on a Congress ticket
 * 2008 - Elected from Govindarajan nagar on a Congress ticket
 * 2010 - 2018: Member of Karnataka Legislative Council
 * 2018–present: Elected for a second time on a BJP ticket
 * 2019 - 2020: Minister of Horticulture and Sericulture
 * 2021 -2023: Minister for Housing and Minister for Infrastructure and Development