Sunder Lal Patwa

Sunder Lal Patwa (11 November 1924 – 28 December 2016), was an Indian statesman, who served as the Chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and a cabinet minister in the Government of India. He was born in the village of Kukreshawar located between Manasa and Rampura in the Nimach District of Madhya Pradesh.

He was awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award, posthumously in 2017 by the Government of India.^[1][2]

Political career

He was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh twice, from 20 January 1980 to 17 February 1980 as member of Janata Party and from 5 March 1990 to 15 December 1992 as leader of Bharatiya Janta Party. He began his political career with Jana Sangh which merged with Janata Party in 1977. Later members owing allegiance to Jana Sangh's Hindutva ideology broke away from Janata Party in 1980 to form Bharatiya Janata Party.

Patwa was first elected to Lok Sabha via bye-poll in Chhindwara in 1997 by defeating Congress strongman Kamal Nath in his home turf. He lost from Chhindwara in 1998 General Election.

In 1999, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Hoshangabad constituency, and was minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government from 1999 to 2001. As a legislator, he was known as strict disciplinarian.

He was associated with Indore Rajya Praja Mandal since 1941, R.S.S. since 1942 and R.S.S. Vistarak, 1947-51. He was imprisoned for seven months for participating in R.S.S. movement in 1948 and was an active worker of Jana Sangh since 1951, Chairman of District Cooperative Bank, Director, State Cooperative Bank and State Cooperative Marketing Sangh and Treasurer, Jana Sangh from 1967-74. He was Detained under M.I.S.A. during Emergency from June 1975 to January 1977. He was awarded the "Vidhan Gaurav" in the All India Conference of Presiding Officers, 1989.^[3]

He died on 28 December 2016 in Bhopal due to a heart attack at the age of 92. He is survived by his wife and a full fledged joint family of 4 brothers and their sons and daughters. His mortal remains were cremated at his home village Kukdeshwar in the presence of several veteran BJP leaders and the public who had gathered to pay last tributes to their departed leader.

Positions held

Patwa has held a variety of official posts:^[3]

• 1957-67, 1977–97 and 1998 - Member, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly (three terms)
• 1957-67 - Chief Whip, Opposition Party, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
• 1975 - General Secretary, Jana Sangh, Madhya Pradesh
• 1977 - Member, Working Committee, Janata Party
• Jan. 1980 - Feb 1980, March 1990 - December 1992 - Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh (twice)
• 1980-85 - Leader of Opposition, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
• 1986 - President, B.J.P., Madhya Pradesh; Member, General Purposes Committee, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
• 1997 - Elected to 11th Lok Sabha*
• 1999 - Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
• 13 Oct 1999 – 30 September 2000 - Union Cabinet Minister, Rural Development
• 30 Sep 2000 – 7 Nov 2000 - Union Cabinet Minister, Chemicals and Fertilizers
• 7 Nov 2000 – 1 September 2001 - Union Cabinet Minister, Mines

References