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Shobha Karandlaje Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth23 October 1966

Age57 Years

BirthplaceCharwaka Post, Puttur Taluk, Mysore State (now Karnataka), India

ProfessionPolitician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - Monappa Gowda (deceased); Mother - Poovakka

Net worthRs. 10 crores (as of 2019)

Shobha Karandlaje Biography

Shobha Karandlaje is an Indian politician from Karnataka who has served in state and central governments, including as Minister of State in ministries for

Early life and background

Shobha Karandlaje was born on 23 October 1966 in Charwaka village in Puttur Taluk, then part of Mysore State (now Karnataka). She grew up in Puttur, Coastal Karnataka, and is identified with the Vokkaliga community. She completed a BA at St. Philomena College, Puttur, earned a Master of Social Work from Mangalore University and an MA in Sociology from Mysuru University. Her hometown is listed as Puttur, Karnataka.

Career

Karandlaje’s public life began through grassroots work with organisations aligned to the Sangh Parivar. In 1996 she assumed the role of General Secretary of the Udupi District BJP Mahila Morcha and later served as the party’s State Secretary and General Secretary for the Mahila Morcha. She became a full-time BJP karyakarta in 1998.

Her first significant legislative position came in 2004 when she was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Council, serving from 15 June 2004 to 27 May 2008. In 2008 she moved to electoral politics in the Karnataka Assembly, winning the Yeshwanthapura seat and serving as an MLA from 2008 to 2013. During that period she held several ministerial portfolios in the Karnataka government: Minister of Rural Development from 30 May 2008 to 9 November 2009, Minister of Food & Civil Supplies from 12 December 2010 to 12 July 2012, and Minister of Energy from 22 September 2010 to 23 January 2013.

In 2012 she left the BJP to join the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP), a party formed by B. S. Yediyurappa, and became its Working President. She contested the 2013 Karnataka assembly elections from Rajaji Nagar on a KJP ticket and finished third. In January 2014 she rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party following the merger of KJP with the BJP.

Switching to national politics, Karandlaje won the 2014 Lok Sabha election from the Udupi–Chikmagalur constituency. She was re-elected from that constituency in 2019 with a large margin. On 7 July 2021 she was appointed Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in the Government of India. Later, on 7 December 2023 she became Minister of State for Food Processing Industries. In the 2024 general election she contested and won the Bangalore North Lok Sabha seat.

Public profile

Karandlaje is known for a long tenure in party organisation and for holding multiple ministerial roles at the state and central level. During her term as Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj in Karnataka, projects and funding for rural amenities and road development are noted as part of the record from that period. Her electoral performance includes sizable victory margins in parliamentary contests.

Her public record also includes several controversies that received media and legal attention. In January 2020 a First Information Report was registered in Kerala in relation to a social-media post alleging discriminatory denial of water to certain families. In February 2020 she drew criticism for comments urging scrutiny of migrants from Kerala. In July 2020 she visited a temple during pandemic restrictions, an action that prompted public criticism. In March 2024 she was booked under sections of the Representation of the People Act following a complaint related to remarks made during an election protest in Bengaluru.

Personal life

Shobha Karandlaje is unmarried. Her father was Monappa Gowda and her mother is Poovakka. She is often referred to by the nickname Shobhakka. Physical details recorded include a height of approximately 5 feet 5 inches, black eyes and black hair. She is an Indian national and follows Hinduism.

Latest updates

In December 2023 she assumed charge as Minister of State for Food Processing Industries in the central government. In 2024 she successfully contested the Bangalore North Lok Sabha seat. Earlier appointments of note include her July 2021 elevation to Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
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Recent Work

Minister of State for Food Processing Industries

Assumed charge as Minister of State for Food Processing Industries in the Government of India.

2023
Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Served as Minister of State in the Government of India.

2021
Member of Parliament, Bangalore North

Won the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Bangalore North.

2024
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Career Highlights

  1. General Secretary, Udupi District BJP Mahila Morcha (1996) and later State Secretary/General Secretary of Mahila Morcha
  2. Member of Karnataka Legislative Council (2004–2008)
  3. MLA from Yeshwanthapura (2008–2013) and Karnataka Minister (Rural Development, Food & Civil Supplies, Energy)
  4. Elected to Lok Sabha (2014, 2019) and served as Minister of State in central ministries
  5. Won Bangalore North Lok Sabha seat in 2024
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Net Worth

Rs. 10 crores (as of 2019)

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Shobha Karandlaje born?

23 October 1966

What is Shobha Karandlaje known for?

Politician

What is Shobha Karandlaje’s marital status?

Unmarried

What is Shobha Karandlaje’s net worth?

Rs. 10 crores (as of 2019)