He became Minister for Home in the S. M. Krishna Cabinet during a particularly trying time for Karnataka especially the Rajkumar kidnap by the notorious poacher Veerappan and the Cauvery Riots.In 2004, he was elected for the eighth consecutive time to the Karnataka Assembly and was once again considered a front runner to the post of the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Buddha Vihar of Siddarth trust, inaugurated by president of India, Pratibha Patil, Mallikarjun Kharge and Dalai lama on 7 January, is another place of attractions in Gulbarga, attracting all ages of community.