A close friend of former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, Ganapthiyappa was a dedicated activist during independence movement and was jailed for his involvement in it.
After Independence, he embraced the Socialist concept of Ram Manohar Lohia along with his friends like Shanthveri Gopala Gowda, G Sadashivarao and others.
He took active role in Kagodu agitation at Sagar during 1951 which provided a much needed power to poor tillers as owners of their tilling land.