Santosh Lad

Santosh Lad, son of Shailaja and Shivaji Lad, was born on 27 February 1975 in Sandur taluk of Karnataka's Bellary district. He has one elder sister. He obtained his bachelor of commerce degree from Sandur Education Society's Arts, Science & Commerce College, Bellary. His family was affluent because of their involvement in the mining industry since the 1950s. Lad was an active sportsman as a youngster and participated in local tournaments and state-level competitions. He participated in under-21 Cricket state-level tournament KSCA representing Tumkur Zone as a team member and as captain.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}

Lad's father, Shivaji, died when Santosh was 16 years old. He is married to Keerthi Lad; they have a son.

Lad started his political career as a counsellor from Sandur taluk. He had very little success in Taluka panchayat elections, where he lost marginally in his first election. He went on to win both seats he contested in the following election, contributing to his party gaining the majority during that period.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}

Lad contested the MLA election against a strong contender from the Congress Party. He represented the Janata Dal (Secular) party and was the youngest MLA (aged 29), along with the first person from his party to win Sandur constituency; the election was won with a record margin.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} Lad was part of the government formation under H. D. Kumaraswamy, ex-chief minister of the Karnataka state.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}

In the 2008 Karnataka Assembly elections, he won the Kalghatgi constituency in the Dharwad district. He currently is an active member and represents Indian National Congress. In the 2013 Karnataka state assembly election, Santosh Lad won with a margin of over 45,000 votes,{{cite news|last=H D|first=Uttam|title=Karnataka polls: List of winners, constituency-wise results |url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/karnataka-polls-list-of-winners-constituency-wise-results--9969.html?page=3|newspaper=India TV News|date=8 May 2013 }}{{cite web|last=H D|first=Uttam|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/karnataka-assembly-elections-2013/dharwad/kalghatgi-75|work=Rediff.com|title=Rediff Labs: Kalghatgi Karnataka Assembly Elections 2013}} to win consecutively for the second time from Kalghatgi and third time overall. Congress secured an absolute majority to form the government.{{cite news|last=H D|first=Uttam|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/specials/news/Karnataka-election-results-Congress-wins-BJP-suffers-humiliating-defeat/articleshow/19949066.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|title=Karnataka election results: Congress wins, BJP suffers humiliating defeat}} Santosh Lad was appointed Minister of State for Information and Infrastructure. In 2018, legislative elections, he lost to C.M. Nimbannanavar of the BJP, with a margin of 20,997 votes.{{cite web |title=Minister / Officers' Details |url=http://www.iddkarnataka.gov.in/officers.html |publisher=Government of Karnataka |access-date=12 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609065228/http://www.iddkarnataka.gov.in/officers.html |archive-date=June 9, 2013 |language=en}}

Santosh Lad was appointed state representative to oversee the rescue operation in the worst flooded area of Uttarakhand,{{Cite web | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/1851433/report-karnataka-government-scrambles-to-rescue-kannadigas-stuck-in-uttarakhand |title = Karnataka government scrambles to rescue Kannadigas stuck in Uttarakhand|date = 22 June 2013}}{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/54-more-return-from-Uttarakhand/articleshow/20884998.cms | work=The Times of India | title=54 more return from Uttarakhand | date=3 July 2013}} accompanied by a team headed by Hemanth Nimbalkar, Kari Gowda, and Naveen Raj Singh. After over ten days of rescue operations, the team was able to rescue everyone except 14 people for whom an extensive search was carried out.

• 1998 – Elected councillor, Sandur Town Panchayat
• 2003 – Elected MLA from Sandur representing Janata Dal (Secular)
• 2007 – Joined Indian National Congress
• 2008 – Elected MLA from Kalghatgi representing Indian National Congress
• 2010 – Appointed general secretary of KPCC
• 2010 – Appointed Raichur District in charge by KPCC
• 2013 – Wins second time in a row as MLA from Kalghatgi
• 2013 – Appointed Minister of State for Information and Infrastructure{{cite news|url=http://m.indianexpress.com/news/karnataka-cm-siddaramaiah-inducts-28-ministers-keeps-tainted-away/1117490/|title=Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah inducts 28 ministers,keeps tainted away |date=18 May 2013 }}
• 2023 - Appointed Labour minister of Karnataka.{{cite web | title=Karnataka government deploys Labour Minister Santosh for relief work in Wayanad | website=The New Indian Express | date=1 August 2024 | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Aug/01/karnataka-government-deploys-labour-minister-santosh-for-relief-work-in-wayanad | access-date=15 September 2024}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Santosh Lad}}

1. [https://archive.today/20130628031446/http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/201306262013062605225876264eb3c3d/%E2%80%98Nothing-I%E2%80%99ve-seen-as-miner-compares-to-scenes-here%E2%80%99.html Santosh Lad Interview with Bangalore Mirror on Uttarakhand Relief Operations]
2. [http://www.deccanherald.com/content/340626/300-state-pilgrims-stranded-safe.html Uttarakhand relief operations -Deccan Herald]
3. [http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/1851433/report-karnataka-government-scrambles-to-rescue-kannadigas-stuck-in-uttarakhand Uttarakhand Flood relief efforts. Santosh Lad visiting the epicenter to help and support.]
4. [http://www.deccanherald.com/content/340326/state-rushes-medical-aid-uttarakhand.html State Rushes Medical Aid to Uttarakhand]
5. [http://www.idd.kar.nic.in/officers.html Infrastructure Development Department of Karnataka]
6. [http://karnatakavarthe.org Department of Information for Karnataka State]
7. [http://www.ndtv.com/elections/article/south/karnataka-28-ministers-sworn-into-siddaramaiah-s-cabinet-368417 Santosh Lad oath taking ceremony- NDTV]
8. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100619035728/http://kla.kar.nic.in/lmember.htm List of M.L.A in Karnataka].
9. [http://kla.kar.nic.in/13mem/75.pdf Santosh S Lad member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly].
10. [http://www.deccanherald.com/content/59528/600-couples-tie-knot-mass.html 600 couples tie knot at mass marriage]. Deccan Herald.
11. [http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/insurance-cover-for-allin-kalghatagi-constituency/488436/ Insurance cover for all in Kalghatagi constituency]. Business Standard.
12. [http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/government-is-neglecting-kalghatgi-says-santosh-lad/article3963636.ece Government is neglecting Kalghatgi, says Santosh Lad]. The Hindu.
13. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100325053231/http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/20100323201003230658545268baf9716/Bollywood-glitterati-show-up-at-Lad%E2%80%99s-mass-wedding.html?pageno=1 Bollywood glitterati show up at Lad’s mass wedding]. Bangalore Mirror.

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Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:Illegal mining in India

Category:Indian businesspeople in mining

Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Karnataka

Category:People from Ballari district

Category:Karnataka MLAs 2008–2013

Category:Businesspeople from Karnataka

Category:Karnataka MLAs 2013–2018

Category:Karnataka MLAs 2023–2028