Thakur Ram Lal

Thakur Ram Lal (7 July 1929 – 6 July 2002) was an Indian politician and a leader of the Indian National Congress in Himachal Pradesh.

Thakur Ram Lal
12th Governor of Andhra Pradesh
In office
15 August 1983 – 29 August 1984
Preceded byK. C. Abraham
Succeeded byShankar Dayal Sharma
2nd Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh
In office
14 February 1980 – 7 April 1983
Preceded byShanta Kumar
Succeeded byVirbhadra Singh
In office
28 January 1977 – 30 April 1977
Preceded byYashwant Singh Parmar
Succeeded byPresident's Rule
Personal details
Born7 July 1929
Simla, Punjab, British India
Died6 July 2002(2002-07-06) (aged 72)
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
ResidenceShimla
OccupationPolitician

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.[1]

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 sri. N.T.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.[2] 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.[1]

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.[3]

Political career

Ram Lal had the distinction of having been elected to Vidhan Sabha from Jubbal Kotkhai constituency nine times since 1957 by big margins.[4] 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 was succeeded by Virbhadra Singh, former Union Minister of State.[5] He served as Chief Minister for 1048 days.

Background

Thakur Ram Lal was survived by four daughters, a grandson and a granddaughter.<ref name="Ram Lal Reference1">"HP ex-CM Thakur Ramlal dead". The Times of India. 8 July 2002. Retrieved 24 February 2021.

References
  1. 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.
  2. Chawla, Prabhu (18 July 1983). "Timber smuggling case haunts former Himachal Pradesh CM Thakur Ram Lal". India Today. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  3. "HP ex-CM Thakur Ramlal dead". The Times of India. Chandigarh. 8 July 2002. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  5. 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.
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