Gopala Poojary contests election for the first time as a member of the KCP in 1994 garnering 10436 votes.

Gopala Poojary is considered to be a very senior leader in Udupi and is regarded as "Badavara Bandu" and lauded for being a simple politician in his hometown Byndoor.

He has contested 6 elections as a member of the Indian National Congress winning four times.

He is regarded as a strong and loyal leader of the Congress Party from the South Canara region.

In 2004 he was the only Congress candidate to win an assembly election out of the five constituencies in Udupi District.