His father, C. P. Mudalagiriyappa was a three-time Congress MP. As a medical professional, Dr Rajesh Gowda focussed on his medical practice. His service of patients endeared him to people, who encouraged him to enter public life.[3] He contested the 2020 bypoll election from Sira and won, becoming the first BJP candidate to win the constituency.
Dr Rajesh Gowda along with congress leader Yathindra Siddaramaiah founded Matrix Imaging Solutions. However Dr Yathindra resigned as a director following a controversy in 2016.[4]