Qamar ul Islam


Qamar ul Islam, generally referred to as Qamarul Islam was an Indian politician who was the Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Kalaburagi and secretary of All India Congress Committee incharge of Kerala. He served as the Cabinet Minister for Housing and Labour, Minister of Municipal Administration, Public Enterprises and Minister of Wakf and the MLA from Kalaburagi-North constituency for the state of Karnataka.

Early life and education

Qamar ul Islam was born to Noorul Islam in Kalaburagi. He completed his Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from PDA College of Engineering, Kalaburagi. He first stood in elections in PDA and became the president of the students' union, becoming the first and last Muslim student to hold the post of students' union president in PDA College.

Political career

He was a six-time MLA from the state of Karnataka. He started his political career with the Indian Union Muslim League in 1978 and was elected to Karnataka Legislative Assembly during the terms 1978–83, 1989–1994, 1994–96, 1999–2004, 2008–2013 and 2013–2017. He was Member of Parliament from 1996 to 1998 and also the cabinet minister for Housing and Labour in the administration led by Chief Minister S.M. Krishna from October 1999 to May 2004 and he also served as cabinet minister for Municipal administration, Public Enterprises, Minority Development and waqf led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah cabinet from May 2013 to June 2016.

Personal life

He was professionally an engineer.

Positions held

Qamar ul Islam died on 18 September 2017 at a hospital in Bengaluru due to cardiogenic shock and multi organ failure. He was admitted to the hospital 11 days earlier following cellulitis of the leg.. His funeral procession was attended by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjun Kharge and others.