He first contested 1983 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections as a Janata Party candidate from Dharwad Assembly constituency and lost by a wafer thin margin of 132 votes against S. R. Morey of Indian National Congress.
[2] Later he defeated the same candidate and emerged victorious in 1985 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections.
He announced retirement from active politics before 2013 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections.
[10] His youngest son Aravind Bellad is representing Hubli-Dharwad West after his political retirement i.e., since 2013.
[11][12][13][14][15][16] His son Aravind Bellad accused that his phone was tapped and complained to Police and then Home minister Basavaraj Bommai.