Social Activities:

• Functioned as Volunteer, R.S.S. Sheshadripura, Bangalore initially.
• During 1972, elected as President, Shikaripura Taluk ]ana Sangha and entered public life.
• Functioned as Director and President of Shikaripura Taluk Veerashaiva Society from 1974 to 1976.
• Jailed for 45 days at Shimoga and Bellary during Emergency.
• Became Secretary of the Janatha Party during 1977.
• As Municipal President, he was attacked by his opponents while on inspection visit - seriously hurt and admitted to Meggan Hospital , Shimoga.
• Exposed Food for Work Scam in 1980 prompting COD Enquiry. . Fought for the cause of Bonded labourers - led a team of 1 700 Bonded labourers to the Shimoga D.C. office.
• Fought for upholding the rights of Bagar Hukum Farmers (unauthorized cultivators) and prevented the Forest Department from planting Eucalypts saplings in the lands under the possession of the unauthorised cultivators.
• During August 1987, he traveled allover Shikaripur Taluk on Bicycle to survey the effects of drought and visited all the villages to have first hand experience of the ill

Political Positions held:

• Elected as Municipal Councilor on 16th August 1975.
• Elected as President, Shikaripur Municipal Council, on 1 3th February 1977. . Elected as President, B.J.P. Shikaripur Taluk during 1980.
• During 1983 elections, defeated the then Horticulture and Prisons Minister Shri Venkatappa and entered Karnataka legislature Assembly. This election proved to be a turning point in his public life and shaped his political career.
• Served as Shimoga District B.J.P. President from 1985 to 1988.
• Elected to Karnataka legislative Assembly in 1985 defeating Sri Madegowda Patil of the Congress.
• Functioned as Karnataka State B.J.P. President during 1988.
• Elected to Karnataka legislative Assembly for the 3rd time in 1989 defeating Shri Nagarada Mahadevappa, a rebel Congress candidate.
• Functioned as Secretary, All India B.J.P. during 1992.
• Elected to Karnataka legislative Assembly for the 4th time during 1994 and functioned as the Opposition leader in Karnataka legislative Assembly.
• Became the State B.J.P. President for the 2nd time during 1998-99.
• Successfully led the Farmers March (Raitha Jatha) from Basavana Bagewadi to Bangalore City during 1988.
• Successfufly led the Farmers March (Raitha Jatha) from Basava Kalyan to Bangalore City .
• Led one more Farmers March to Bangalore City from Banavasi.
• Successfully fought against the Government and prevented the introduction of the Bill aimed at the eviction of unauthorized cultivators (Late B. Rachaiah as Forest Minister had attempted to introduce the Bill).
• Successful march from Shimoga to Bangalore City for the cause of "Save Grama Rajya". (Sri L.K. Advani had inaugurated this 18 day long march on feet-Pada Yatra in 1994).
• Successfully led the Farmers March to "Save Cauvery" from Talacauvery to Kannambadi (K.R.S).
• Participated in the Unity March (Ekata Yatra) from Kanyakumari to Kashmir undertaken by Shri Murali Manohar Joshi, the then B.J.P. President.
• Successfully held the "Sankalpa Ratha Yatre" from Nanjangud to Hubli during 1988 which was appreciated by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Led a successful Picketing (Dharana) in front of the Gandhi Statue in Bangalore , against Scam in K.P. T .C.L.
• Picketed Vidhana Soudha, and led a successful farmers agitation in Cubbon Park in which lakhs of farmers participated, demanding waiver of interest on loans.
• Led a successful struggle urging for the payment of crop insurance money to the farmers.
• Led "Bangalore Chalo" (March to Bangalore ) struggle against the corrupt government in which more than a lakh people participated.
• Elected to Karnataka Legislative Council in 2000 and remained as M.L.C. till 2004.
• Elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for the 5th time in 2004 elections and functioned as the Opposition Leader from May 2004 to January 2006 before becoming the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka on 3rd February 2006 in the coalition government led by Chief Minister Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy.
• Chief Minister of Karnataka in the coalition government from 12.11.2007 to 19.11.2007