Murthy had held several senior cabinet minister positions in Karnataka Government including the important portfolios of Excise, Industry, Finance and Revenue.
It was during Veerappa Moily's regime as CM that Murthy as Revenue Minister unearthed landscam in Mysore taluk, which led to suspension and sacking of government officials for colluding with land grabbers, creating fictitious documents.
He won one of the Rajya Sabha seats by defeating the business tycoon Vijaya Mallya.
Mallya was very confident about his win due to his wealth but did not consider the factor that people and their representatives trusted Mr. Murthy and his principles and taught Dr. Vijaya Mallya that his money, power and lobby were as good as his Kingfisher Airlines against the loyalty and trust Mr. Murthy commanded.
This is because he was very strict, honest and disciplined which irritated the high command of their respective parties who are well branded for corruption and bribery, things that go against the morals and principles of Mr. Murthy.
He had to become the CM of Karnataka back in the early 1990s but was denied the change due to the moral administration of his superiors and peers.