Santosh Lad

Santosh Lad, son of Shivaji Lad and Shailaja Lad was born on 27 February 1975 in Sandur taluk of Bellary district. He has one elder sister. He completed his B.Com. from Sandur Education Society's Arts, Science & Commerce College, Bellary, Karnataka. His family was affluent because of their involvement in the mining industry since the 1950s. Santosh was an active member of the sports community and actively participated in local tournaments and state level competitions. He participated in U-21 Cricket state-level tournament KSCA representing Tumkur Zone as a team member and as captain.

Lad's father, Shivaji Lad, died when Lad was 16 years old. He grew his family business and diversified it into other areas and, at the same time, built his political career. He is married to Keerthi Lad; they have one son named Karan Lad.

Lad started his political career a counselor 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.

Lad contested for MLA election against a strong contender from the Congress Party. He represented the Janata Dal (Secular) party and was the youngest MLA (age 29), along with the first person from his party to win Sandur constituency; the election was won with a record margin. Lad was part of the government formation under H. D. Kumaraswamy, chief minister of the Karnataka state.

In the 2008 Karnataka Assembly elections, he won Kalghatgi constituency in 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,[1][2] to win consecutively for the second time from Kalghatgi and third time overall. Congress secured an absolute majority to form the government.[3] Santosh Lad was appointed as Minister of State for Information and Infrastructure. In 2018, legislative elections, he lost to C.M Nimbannanavar of BJP, with a margin of 20,997 votes[4]

Lad comes from one of the oldest business families in the mining business. Their family has been in the mining business for over six decades. Lad spearheaded the growth of the business and diversified into other areas such as real estate, technology, entertainment, air cargo, IT & ITES, and agricultural business. All businesses are under the umbrella of S Lad Group.

The traditional profession of the Laad Community is commerce and trade. The community is scattered all over India, and are originally from 'Laat Desh' in South Gujarat. The dialect spoken by the community is called Chaurasi and is a mixture of Gujarati, Rajasthani and Marathi. In Karnataka, the community is settled in Bangalore, Mysore, Srirangapatna, Sira, Ganjam, Dharwad, Hubli, Bijapur, Gulburga and Belagur, with small numbers in Savanur, Chitradurga, Shimoga and NR Pur. In 2005, an analysis of the grammar and structure of the Chaurasi language by JP Narayan Laad was published by the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore. The Laad community is also mentioned in the memoirs of Francis Buchanan who toured Mysore State after the fall of Tippu Sultan in 1799.[7]

• 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 as Minister of State of for Information and Infrastructure[8]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santosh Lad.

1. Santosh Lad Interview with Bangalore Mirror on Uttarakhand Relief Operations
2. Uttarakhand relief operations -Deccan Herald
3. Uttarakhand Flood relief efforts. Santosh Lad visiting the epicenter to help and support.
4. State Rushes Medical Aid to Uttarakhand
5. Infrastructure Development Department of Karnataka
6. Department of Information for Karnataka State
7. Santosh Lad oath taking ceremony- NDTV
8. List of M.L.A in Karnataka.
9. Santosh S Lad member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
10. 600 couples tie knot at mass marriage. Deccan Herald.
11. Insurance cover for all in Kalghatagi constituency. Business Standard.
12. Government is neglecting Kalghatgi, says Santosh Lad. The Hindu.
13. Bollywood glitterati show up at Lad’s mass wedding. Bangalore Mirror.