Basappa Danappa Jatti Biography ( Fifth Vice President )

 Basappa Danappa Jatti, popularly known as B. D. Jatti, was an Indian politician who served as the fifth Vice President of India from 1974 to 1979. He was born on September 10, 1912, in Savalgi village, Bijapur district, in the erstwhile Bombay Presidency of British India. Jatti belonged to the Lingayat community, a prominent religious group in Karnataka.

Jatti completed his education at Rajaram College, Kolhapur, and later pursued law at the Government Law College, Mumbai. He actively participated in the Indian freedom struggle and was involved in various nationalist activities during the pre-independence era.

Jatti entered politics after India gained independence in 1947. He joined the Indian National Congress (INC) and was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly in 1951. Subsequently, he served as a Minister in the Bombay Government, holding portfolios such as Home, Law, and Revenue.

In 1967, Jatti was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, from the Chikkodi constituency in Karnataka. He held several ministerial positions at the central government level, including the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

On August 31, 1974, Basappa Danappa Jatti was sworn in as the Vice President of India, succeeding V. V. Giri. He served as Vice President under President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed until 1979. As Vice President, Jatti played a significant role in maintaining the constitutional and parliamentary processes of the country.

Following the sudden demise of President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed in 1977, Jatti assumed the additional charge of Acting President of India until Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was elected as the President.

After his tenure as Vice President, Jatti continued his political career in Karnataka. He served as the Governor of the Indian state of Karnataka from 1980 to 1985. Jatti played a vital role in the development of Karnataka during his term as Governor.

Basappa Danappa Jatti passed away on June 7, 2002, at the age of 89. He left behind a legacy of service to the nation and played a significant role in the political landscape of India.