Vidya Charan Shukla

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Vidya Charan Shukla

Political party	ncp
As of December 2, 2006

Vidya Charan Shukla was born on 2nd August 1928 at Raipur ( CP & Berar ).His father Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla was an illustrious Lawyer,Freedom Fighter,Veteran Congressman,Premier of CP & Berar and The First Chief Minister of reorganised Madhya Pradesh.Vidya Charan Shukla graduated from Morris College Nagpur in 1951.He started Allwyn Cooper Private Ltd which was organising Big Game Safari & Photo Expeditions of wild life in Central Indian jungles.The company grew into global Big Game Safari company and was attracting clients from all over the world especially from Europe and USA.

General Elections were coming in 1957 and the congress party chose him as their Lok Sabha candidate from Mahasamund constituency.He won with a thumping majority and entered the Parliament of India as one of the youngest Member.Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru was happy to meet this young,promising Congressman from Madhya Pradesh. He returned elected to Lok Sabha 9 times in subsequent elections.When Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi became Prime Minister in 1966 she chose him as Minister in her Cabinet.In a long span of political carrier he has held virtually all portfolios including Communication,Home,Defence,Finance,Planning,Information & Broadcasting,Civil Supplies,External Affairs,Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources.When Mrs. Gandhi chose to create Cong(I),Mr. Shukla organised important meetings at his 7,Race Course Residence and helped her mobilise organisational support for her along with important party functionaries. He is a known defender of Congress which was amply shown in the trial of Mrs. Indira Gandhi during Shah Commission proceedings.He worked very closely with Mrs. Indira Gandhi.Shri Rajeev Gandhi took his advise on policy matters.Under the prime-ministership of Sh. P. V. Narsimha Rao he was involved in all key decisions including opening up of Indian Economy.Shrimati Sonia Gandhi gives weightage to this veteran Congressman who had the longest innings in Parliament.