M. Roopakala
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2024}}
M. Roopakala Shashidhar (born 20 June 1979) is an Indian politician from Karnataka. She is a member of the 2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly representing Kolar Gold Fields constituency in Kolar district.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-14 |title=Karnataka Assembly Election Results 2023: Full list of winners - India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/karnataka-assembly-polls-2023/story/karnataka-assembly-election-results-2023-full-list-of-winners-2378524-2023-05-13 |access-date=2024-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514043110/https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/karnataka-assembly-polls-2023/story/karnataka-assembly-election-results-2023-full-list-of-winners-2378524-2023-05-13 |archive-date=14 May 2023 }} She won on an Indian National Congress ticket.{{Cite web |title=Roopakala M |url=https://prsindia.org/mlatrack/roopakala-m |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=PRS Legislative Research |language=en-US}} She defeated Ashwini Sampangi of BJP by 50,467 votes. In January 2024, she was appointed the chairperson of the Karnataka Handicrafts Industrial Development Corporation.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-27 |title=To placate, keep dissent in check, Congress govt in Karnataka appoints board, corporation chiefs |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/to-placate-keep-dissent-in-check-congress-govt-in-karnataka-appoints-board-corporation-chiefs-9129710/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=27 January 2024 |title=Karnataka: 34 MLAs made chiefs of boards, Shanti Nagar MLA gets BDA |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Jan/27/karnataka-34-mlas-made-chiefs-of-boards-shanti-nagar-mla-gets-bda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120155042/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Jan/27/karnataka-34-mlas-made-chiefs-of-boards-shanti-nagar-mla-gets-bda |archive-date=20 January 2025 |access-date=20 January 2025 |publisher=The New Indian Express |language=en}}{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=26 January 2024 |title=34 MLAs appointed as heads to govt.-owned boards and corporations in Karnataka |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/34-mlas-appointed-as-heads-to-govt-owned-boards-and-corporations-in-karnataka/article67780204.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731093326/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/34-mlas-appointed-as-heads-to-govt-owned-boards-and-corporations-in-karnataka/article67780204.ece |archive-date=31 July 2024 |access-date=20 January 2025 |publisher=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}{{cite news |date=27 January 2024 |title=34 MLAs given chairman posts for boards and corps, Haris BDA chairman |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/34-mlas-given-chairman-posts-for-boards-and-corporations-haris-bda-chairman/articleshow/107175062.cms |archive-url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/34-mlas-given-chairman-posts-for-boards-and-corporations-haris-bda-chairman/articleshow/107175062.cms |archive-date=20 January 2025 |access-date=20 January 2025 |publisher=The Times of India}}
Early life and education
Roopakala is the daughter of K.H. Muniyappa, a seven-time Member of Parliament.{{Cite news |date=2023-05-14 |title=Karnataka assembly elections 2023 results: Amid twists & turns, families taste victory |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/karnataka-assembly-elections-2023-results-amid-twists-turns-families-taste-victory/articleshow/100220311.cms |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} She finished her post-graduation in arts from Karnataka State Open University in 2016. Her husband Shashidhar J. E. works as a director in the Karnataka assembly secretariat.{{Cite news |date=2023-05-02 |title=Husband alleges bid to harmKGF MLA's poll prospects |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/husband-alleges-bid-to-harmkgf-mlas-poll-prospects/articleshow/99920884.cms |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
Her father Muniyappa, agreed to be dropped from the current Congress ministry to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Kolar, provided his daughter Roopakala is accommodated in the cabinet.{{Cite web |last=DHNS |title=K H Muniyappa among 3 ministers in Congress ticket shortlist |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/muniyappa-among-3-ministers-in-cong-ticket-shortlist-2881163 |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}{{Cite news | date=2024-03-07 |title=LS polls: Congress likely to field 3 Ministers in reserved constituencies |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/ls-polls-congress-likely-to-field-3-ministers-in-reserved-constituencies/article67924909.ece |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
Controversy
In June 2023, inaugurating the government Shakti scheme of free travel for women, she drove a bus for a short distance.{{Cite web |last=DHNS |title=MLA Roopakala drives bus in KGF |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/mla-roopakala-drives-bus-in-kgf-1226939.html |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} After criticism for allowing the MLA to drive the bus, KSRTC Kolar division ordered an inquiry.{{Cite web |last=Goudar |first=Mahesh M. |date=2023-06-13 |title=KGF MLA Roopakala draws criticism for driving KSRTC bus during launch of Shakti scheme |url=https://thesouthfirst.com/karnataka/kgf-mla-roopakala-driving-ksrtc-bus-shakti-launch/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=The South First |language=en}} She declared assets worth Rs.8 crore before the assembly elections.{{Cite web |title=Roopakala M(Indian National Congress(INC)):Constituency- KOLAR GOLD FIELD(KOLAR) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://myneta.info/karnataka2018/candidate.php?candidate_id=5916 |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=myneta.info}}
References
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Category:21st-century Indian women politicians
Category:Women members of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly