Thakur Ram Lal
Thakur Ram Lal | |
---|---|
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh | |
In office 28 January 1977 – 30 April 1977 | |
Preceded by | Yashwant Singh Parmar |
Succeeded by | Shanta Kumar |
In office 14 February 1980 – 7 April 1983 | |
Preceded by | Shanta Kumar |
Succeeded by | Virbhadra Singh |
Governor of Andhra Pradesh | |
In office 15 August 1983 – 29 August 1984 | |
Preceded by | K. C. Abraham |
Succeeded by | Shankar Dayal Sharma |
Personal details | |
Born | 7 July 1929 Shimla, Punjab, British India |
Died | 6 July 2002 Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India | (aged 72)
Nationality | Indian |
Political party | Indian National Congress |
Residence | Shimla |
Occupation | Politician |
Thakur Ram Lal (7 July 1929 – 6 July 2002) was an Indian politician and a leader of the Indian National Congress in Himachal Pradesh. He was born in a family of Rajput caste.[1][2]
He was elected to the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from Jubbal Kotkhai constituency in 1957. Later, he was re-elected to the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from the same constituency in 1962, 1967, 1977, 1980, and 1982.
He became the second Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh on 28 January 1977 and remained in office till 30 April 1977. He was the leader of opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from 29 June 1977 to 13 February 1980. He again became the Chief Minister of the state on 14 February 1980 and remained in office till 7 April 1983.[3]
Later, he served as Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 15 August 1983 to 29 August 1984. His name got etched in infamy, as he appointed the Finance minister of Andhrapradesh Mr. N Baskar Rao as Chief Minister, when the incumbent CM Mr. NT Rama rao was getting surgery in the USA. This change was supposedly done at the behest of then Congress Leadership, even when Baskar rao had no more than 20% of MLAs supporting him. NTR returned to Andhra's capital one week later, but was adamantly denied justice by Ram Lal.[4] Then NTR launched massive campaigning against Ram Lal and Congress. 30 days later, President Zail singh dismissed Ram Lal, and 3 days later NT Rama rao again became Chief Minister of Andhra.
He was also Minister of Science and technology.[3]
He died in Shimla following a massive cardiac arrest on 6 July 2002. His grandson, Rohit Thakur is an MLA from Jubbal-Kotkhai.
In addition, he is also Chief Whip in the state government.[5]
Political career[]
Ram Lal had the distinction of having been elected to Vidhan Sabha from Jubbal Kotkhai constituency for nine times since 1957 by big margins.[6] Even during the period of worst ever anti-congress wave in year 1977, he was elected to state assembly, securing 60.2 percent of total votes polled. In year 1983 he resigned as Chief Minister and succeeded by Virbhadra Singh, former Union Minister of State.[7] He served as Chief Minister for 1048 days.
Background[]
Thakur Ram Lal was survived by four daughters, a grandson and a granddaughter.[6] Ram Lal was considered a symbol of hopes and aspirations for the people of his constituency and the state which he served with devotion.
References[]
- ^ "Congress wants Dalit votes for Rajput CM in Himachal Pradesh". Velivada. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "Rajputs Dominate Himachal Politicsl". divyahimachal.com (in Hindi). 8 May 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ a b Chawla, Prabhu (21 October 1983). "Thakur Ram Lal resigns as Himachal Pradesh CM to pave the way for Virbhadra Singh". India Today. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ Chawla, Prabhu (18 July 1983). "Timber smuggling case haunts former Himachal Pradesh CM Thakur Ram Lal". India Today. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ "HP ex-CM Thakur Ramlal dead". Chandigarh: The Times of India. 8 July 2002. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ^ a b "HP ex-CM Thakur Ramlal dead". The Times of India. 8 July 2002. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ Prabhu, Chawla (30 October 1983). "Thakur Ram Lal resigns as Himachal Pradesh CM to pave the way for Virbhadra Singh". India Today. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- Governors of Andhra Pradesh
- Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh
- People from Shimla
- Himachal Pradesh MLAs 1967–1972
- Himachal Pradesh MLAs 1972–1977
- Himachal Pradesh MLAs 1977–1982
- Himachal Pradesh MLAs 1982–1985
- Himachal Pradesh MLAs 1990–1992
- Himachal Pradesh MLAs 1993–1998
- Himachal Pradesh MLAs 1998–2003
- 1929 births
- 2002 deaths
- Chief ministers from Indian National Congress
- Indian National Congress politicians
- Janata Dal politicians