Congress veteran Janardhana Poojary penning his autobiography

Mangaluru, Sep 15: From a bright student to being one of the stalwarts of the Indian National Congress party, B Janardhana Poojary's extraordinary journey is set to get a book treatment as the veteran politician is busy giving shape to his autobiography.

“I started writing few months back and the book will contain all my good and bad experiences right from my childhood,” said the 80-year-old leader, who is recently being alienated by the Congress for his relentless barb against chief minister Siddaramaiah and other party leaders.

Being the most influential leader of Billava community and one of the most powerful politicians of coastal Karnataka, Mr Poojary had served as Union Minister of State for Finance and Union Minister of State for Rural Development between 1982 to 1989 during the tenure of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

He was first elected to the 6th Lok Sabha in 1977 from the erstwhile Mangaluru (now Dakshina Kannada) constituency. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980, 1984 and 1989 from the same constituency.

In 1994, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament – a position he held until 2008. He also served as the General Secretary of All India Congress Committee and President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

Prior to joining politics, Mr Poojary practiced law as a barrister from 1960 to 1979. As a lawyer, he was actively engaged in safeguarding the interests of poor agricultural tenants and defended a large number of poor people by giving them free legal aid.

He was responsible for the construction of several college, schools and temples, including the Gokarnanatheshwara Temple (Kudroli Temple) in Mangaluru. He is the architect of world famous Mangaluru Dasara. He also took active part in construction of Dharmasthala Kanyadi Shree Raam Mandir. He also took initiative in the renovation of Kankanady Shree Brahma Baiderkala Garodi Temple and Katpady Shree Vishwanatha Temple.