Bhagat Singh Koshyari Explained

Bhagat Singh Koshyari
Birth Date:1942 6, df=y
Birth Place:Bageshwar, United Provinces, British India
(present-day Uttarakhand, India)
Order:22nd
Office:Governor of Maharashtra
Term Start:5 September 2019
Term End:17 February 2023
1Blankname:Chief Minister
1Namedata:
2Namedata:
Predecessor:C. Vidyasagar Rao
Successor:Ramesh Bais
Office1:Governor of Goa
(Additional Charge)
Term Start1:18 August 2020
Term End1:6 July 2021
1Blankname1:Chief Minister
1Namedata1:Pramod Sawant
Predecessor1:Satya Pal Malik
Successor1:P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
Order2:2nd
Office2:Chief Minister of Uttarakhand
Term Start2:30 October 2001
Term End2:1 March 2002
Predecessor2:Nityanand Swami
Successor2:N. D. Tiwari
Office3:Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Term Start3:26 November 2008
Term End3:16 May 2014
Predecessor3:Harish Rawat
Successor3:Manorama Dobriyal Sharma
Constituency3:Uttarakhand
Office4:Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Term Start4:16 May 2014
Term End4:23 May 2019
Predecessor4:K. C. Singh Baba
Successor4:Ajay Bhatt
Constituency4:Nainital–Udhamsingh Nagar
Party:Bharatiya Janata Party
Occupation:Teacher, Author, Journalist
Alma Mater:Agra University (MA)
Education:Master of Arts

Bhagat Singh Koshyari (born 17 June 1942) is an Indian politician who served as the 22nd governor of Maharashtra from 2019 to 2023.[1] [2] An RSS veteran, Koshyari served as National Vice-President of BJP and party's 3rd State president for Uttarakhand. He also served as 2nd Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal) from 2001 to 2002 and thereafter, was the leader of the opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2003. He also served as an MLC in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council (when Uttarakhand was part of undivided Uttar Pradesh; later continued in Uttarakhand Legislative Council) and MLA in Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. He later served as an MP in Rajya Sabha from 2008 to 2014 from Uttarakhand and then the MP in the 16th Lok Sabha from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar constituency, earning him the distinction of being elected in both houses of State Legislature and both houses of National Parliament respectively.

As Governor of Maharashtra, Koshyari tainted his legacy when he ignored rules and swore in Devendra Fadnavis as CM and Ajit Pawar as Deputy CM of Maharashtra without his party's consent. He was on the post for less than 80 hours, becoming Deputy CM with the shortest tenure in Devendra Fadnavis led government. Koshyari then played singular role in the dissolution of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government again in favour of his ideological affiliated party, BJP. This action received a rap from the SC and was termed as Illegal by the Supreme Court of India in their order dated 11 May 2023.[3]

Personal and professional life

Bhagat Singh Koshyari was born on 17 June 1942 to Gopal Singh Koshyari and Motima Devi at Palanadhura Chetabgarh in Bageshwar district of then United Provinces in British India (present Uttarakhand).[4]

Koshyari holds a master's degree in English and studied at Almora College, Almora (then affiliated with Agra University, now S.S.J. Campus Almora of Kumaon University). During this period, Koshyari was also a general secretary of the students' union of Almora College, Almora, between 1961 and 1962. He has also represented the Executive Council of Kumaon University, from 1979 to 1982, 1982 to 1985 and 1988 to 1991.[4]

He has had a successful career as a teacher and journalist. He had worked as a lecturer at Raja Inter College, Raja Ka Rampur, Etah district, Uttar Pradesh for few years. Koshyari is a founder and managing editor of Parvat Piyush, a weekly published from Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand since 1975. He has also published two books, Uttaranchal Pradesh Kyun? and Uttaranchal Sangharsh Evam Samadhan.[4]

Political career

He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He took part in the struggle against the Emergency and was imprisoned he was detained in Almora and Fatehgarh Central Jail under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), from 3 July 1975 to 23 March 1977.[4]

In May 1997 he became a member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, upper house of legislature of Uttar Pradesh. In 2000, he was appointed minister of Energy, Irrigation, Law, and Legislative Affairs of the newly created state of Uttaranchal. In 2001 he replaced Nityanand Swami as the chief minister of Uttarakhand.[5] He has also served as the President of the BJP of his state. As a result of his party's defeat in the 2002 Assembly elections, he resigned in March 2002 as the chief minister. However, he was elected from Kapkot assembly constituency,[6] [7] and became the leader of the opposition of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, till 2007.

In the 2007 Assembly elections in Uttarakhand, he was elected again from Kapkot assembly constituency.[7] [8] However, despite the BJP's victory, Koshyari was deprived of the Chief Minister's post by his chief rival, Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri. Media reports have cited that the BJP's central leadership was biased for Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, despite Koshyari supported by RSS and majority of the elected MLAs. In November 2008 he was elected a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttarakhand and remained a member till his election to the Lok Sabha in 2014.[9] He has been appointed a national vice-president of BJP and also BJP chief in Uttarakhand.[10]

In the 2014 Indian general election, he was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha from Nainital Uddhamsingh Nagar, Lok Sabha constituency.[11]

On 5 September 2019, he was appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra. Further, in August 2020 he was also appointed as the Governor of Goa[12] (additional charge). He stepped down as the Governor of Maharashtra on 12 February 2023, a month after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his desire to resign from his post and retire,[13] after many decades as a politician and social activist.

Social activities

He founded various schools in Uttarakhand[14] (Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Pithoragarh, Vivekanand Vidya Mandir Inter College, Pithoragarh; and Saraswati Vihar Higher Secondary School, Nainital).

Even after years in politics, he remains steadfast in his dedication to education. He is currently serving as the Governor of Maharashtra and is the (ex-officio) Chancellor of the University of Mumbai. Since 2019 (during his tenure as the Governor), there have been several crucial developments in the state's higher education atmosphere. These range from the introduction of the NEP 2020, and the setting up of many state cluster universities - Dr. Homi Bhabha State University & HSNC University, Mumbai of which he is the (ex-officio)[15] chancellor.[16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Controversies

While Koshyari served as the governor, he sparked a row in a speech by saying, "There will be no money left, and Mumbai will cease to exist as the financial capital of India, if Rajasthani-Marwaris and Gujaratis are removed from these areas of Maharashtra". This statement received large backlash from the opposition parties; even the ruling BJP distanced itself from the situation. Koshyari later apologised for hurting the sentiments of Marathi people.[21] [22] Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray lashed out to the Governor for his insensitive and senile remarks terming it an insult to Marathi pride. [23]

In November 2022, while giving a speech to students of a university, attended by NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Governor Koshyari called Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj an olden days idol, sparking a row of discontent over whole Maharashtra.[24]

See also

References

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External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Bhagat Singh Koshyari sworn in as new governor of Maharashtra . 5 September 2019 . Free Press Journal . 5 September 2019 . en.
  2. News: Sandhu . Kamaljit Kaur . Satya Pal Malik transferred to Meghalaya; Bhagat Singh Koshyari given additional charge as Goa Governor . 18 August 2020 . India Today . 18 August 2020 . en.
  3. News: Maharashtra Governor, Speakers Actions Illegal But Can't Restore Uddhav Govt: Supreme Court. 11 March 2023 .
  4. Web site: Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari - Members of Parliament (Rajya Sabha). National Portal of India. 28 May 2014 .
  5. Web site: Former Chief Ministers. Official Website Of the Chief Minister Of Uttarakhand, India . 28 May 2014.
  6. Web site: 1st Vidhan Sabha Members (Hindi). Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly . 28 May 2014 .
  7. Web site: State Elections 2002, 2007 - Partywise Comparison for 42-Kapkot Constituency of Uttarakhand . Election Commission of India. 28 May 2014.
  8. Web site: 2nd Vidhan Sabha Members (Hindi). Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. 28 May 2014 .
  9. Web site: List of Former Members of Rajya Sabha (Term Wise) . Rajya Sabha website. no. 482: 26/11/2008 to 25/11/2014 . 28 May 2014.
  10. Web site: Bhagat Singh Koshyari likely to be next Uttarakhand BJP chief. 22 January 2013. 28 May 2014 . .
  11. Web site: General Election To Lok Sabha Trends & Result 2014 - Uttarakhand . 27 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140527113253/http://eciresults.nic.in/statewiseS28.htm?st=S28 . 27 May 2014 .
  12. News: 19 August 2020 . Bhagat Singh Koshyari assumes additional charge as Goa governor . The Times of India . 14 February 2023 . 0971-8257.
  13. Web site: Koshyari resigns after Shivaji row: Big win, declares Aaditya, not a favour on Maharashtra, says Raut . 14 February 2023 . India Today . en.
  14. Web site: Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari Member Of Parliament. 11 January 2020.
  15. News: Governor presented the Times Applaud Trendsetters 2022 awards . rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in . 24 February 2022 . 2 July 2023.
  16. Web site: 15 March 2021. HSNC Cluster University holds its first General Council Meeting at Mumbai. 14 September 2021. India Education Latest Education News Global Educational News Recent Educational News. en-US.
  17. Web site: 12 June 2020. Yogita. Rao. Mumbai: HR, KC colleges now under new HSNC University Mumbai News - Times of India. 14 September 2021. The Times of India. en.
  18. News: Rodrigues. RonalddateJune 12, 2020. Governor Koshyari, CM Uddhav Thackeray inaugurate HSNC cluster university. 14 September 2021. Free Press Journal. en.
  19. News: 12 June 2020. Maharashtra gets second cluster university. 14 September 2021. The Indian Express. en.
  20. News: Shreya . Bhandary . 12 June 2020 . Second cluster varsity all set to begin admissions . 14 September 2021. Hindustan Times.
  21. News: Saigal . Sonam . 30 July 2022 . Mumbai will cease to be financial capital if Gujaratis, Rajasthanis are removed: Maharashtra Governor Koshyari . The Hindu . 1 August 2022 . 0971-751X.
  22. News: Big row over Maha Governor's remarks, Uddhav, Sule say 'he should be...' . 1 August 2022 . Zee News . 30 July 2022.
  23. Web site: "Insult To Marathi Pride": Uddhav Thackeray Slams Maharashtra Governor For Controversial Remark . 10 November 2022 . NDTV.com.
  24. Web site: Governor Koshyari calls Shivaji old icon, Gadkari founder of Modern era . 10 November 2022 . NDTV.com.