Raj Narain

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Raj Narain (1917 – December 31, 1986) was an Indian politician who as a candidate of Janata Party in 1977 defeated Indira Gandhi- then Prime Minister of India in Lok Sabha election from Rai Bareli constituency .

He was though earlier defeated by her in 1971 election. Raj Narain accused Indira Gandhi of corrupt electoral practices and filed election petition against her. The Allahabad High Court on 12 June 1975 upheld the accusations and set aside election of Indira Gandhi and also disqualified her to contest Lok Sabha election for next 6 years .

Raj Narain was born in 1917 in a Bhumihar Brahmin family of Uttar Pradesh and had studied M.A and LLB. He was born in the village named Motikoat, Gangapur in Varanasi. He was from the Royal family of Varanasi and directly associated with Maharaja Chet Singh and Maharaja Balwant Singh, who were kings of Varanasi,over a century back.

He joined Socialist Party and held many party positions . He was very close to Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia. Dr. Lohiya described him as "a person who has heart of a lion and practices of Gandhi". Dr. Lohia admired him a lot, and even said that "if in India there could be just three or four persons like him, dictatorship can never shadow the democracy".He was elected to Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1952 . He was first "Leader of Opposition" of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly after independence, and his second term ended in the year 1962. He was in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly for two terms (1952-1962) . He was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1966 to 1972 and again from 1974 to 1976. He was Minister of Health in Morarji Desai Government from 1977 to 1980.

He is one of the pillars of Socialist movement in India along with Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya.

He was a great freedom fighter. He was president of Student Congress during 1942 revolution, and he lead the revolution in and around Varanasi district. The protest and revolution under his leadership is considered as one of the best this country has ever seen on August 09, 1942. He was so active in freedom struggle that British government wanted to get a hold of him and ordered to prize anybody who can get him "Dead or Alive". The prize for getting him dead or alive was Rs.5000, in the year 1942.

He holds a record for going jail. He was jailed 80 times in his total life span of 69. He nearly spent 17 years in jail for the cause of society and country at a large.

He died on December 31, 1986 at 23:55 hrs at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi; the name which again shared its association with him after his death.