Venkatappa was an agriculturalist and entrepreneur (Sri Udayaranga Motor Service, a popular bus line plying between Bangalore and Chamarajanagara, is one of his better known ventures).

[3][4] Chandrashekara Murthy entered politics in the year 1977 winning the parliamentary elections from the erstwhile Kanakapura (Lok Sabha constituency).

Dr. Manmohan Singh, during a memorial service, said "I was really fortunate that when I was Finance Minister this portfolio of revenue department was in [the] honest hands of Sri M. V. Chandrashekara Murthy.

"[8][9] Chandrashekara Murthy lost an election only once, to H. D. Kumaraswamy in 1996, which was a result of betrayal by S. M. Krishna based on his secret understanding with H. D. Deve Gowda.

[13][14] The by-election resulting from Chandrashekara Murthy's death was won by H. D. Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal (Secular), with D. K. Shivakumar of the Indian National Congress losing.