| Kamalapati Tripathi | |
| Office: | 15th Minister of Railways |
| Primeminister: | Indira Gandhi |
| Term: | 14 January 1980 - 12 November 1980 |
| Predecessor: | T. A. Pai |
| Successor: | Kedar Pandey |
| Primeminister1: | Indira Gandhi |
| Term1: | 11 February 1975 - 23 March 1977 |
| Predecessor1: | Lalit Narayan Mishra |
| Successor1: | Madhu Dandavate |
| Order2: | 7th |
| Office2: | Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh |
| Term2: | 4 April 1971 - 13 June 1973 |
| Predecessor2: | Tribhuvan Narain Singh |
| Successor2: | President's rule |
| Office3: | 2nd Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh |
| 1Blankname3: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata3: | Chandra Bhanu Gupta |
| Term3: | 26 February 1969 - 17 February 1970 |
| Predecessor3: | Ram Prakash Gupta |
| Successor3: | Keshav Prasad Maurya Dinesh Sharma |
| Predecessor4: | position created |
| Successor4: | Vacant |
| Term4: | 1983 - 12 November 1986 |
| Birth Date: | 3 September 1905 |
| Birth Place: | Benares, Benares State, British India |
| Death Date: | 8 October 1990 (aged 85) |
| Death Place: | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Party: | Indian National Congress |
Kamalapati Tripathi (3 September 1905[1] – 8 October 1990) was an Indian politician, writer, journalist, and freedom fighter. He was a senior Indian National Congress leader from Varanasi constituency. He served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1969–1970) as well as Union Minister for Railways. He was the only executive president of Indian National Congress, serving from 1983 to 1986.
Kamlapati Tripathi was born in a Saryupareen Brahmin family.[2] [3] His father's name was Pandit Narayan Pati Tripathi.[4] He had three sons and two daughters. The eldest son was Lokpati Tripathi who was also a minister in Uttar Pradesh, his second son was Mayapati Tripathi who founded the social organisation by the name of Akhil Bharatiya Kissan Mazdoor Vahini. His youngest son was Manglapati Tripathi (also called Shashipati Tripathi).[5]
Tripathi started his career as a journalist working for the daily Hindi newspaper Aaj and later Sansaar. He was also the editor of the two tabloids.
During 1921, Kamalapati Tripathi participated in Non-cooperation Movement. He was also an active participant in the Civil Disobedience Movement, for which he was jailed. In 1942 he was on his way to Mumbai to participate in the Quit India Movement when he was arrested and jailed for 3 years. Kamalapati Tripathi was elected to the Constituent Assembly from United Province on Congress Party ticket and played an important part in the drafting of the Constitution of India.[6]
He remained Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 4 April 1971 until 12 June 1973.[7] His resignation was a result of the 1973 Provincial Armed Constabulary revolt.[8]
He was Union Minister for Railways two times first from 1975 to 1977 and then briefly in 1980. He presented Railway Budget of India four times: 1975–76, 1976–77, 1980–81 (interim) and 1980–81 (final).[9] Following trains were introduced during his tenure:[10]
An 8-kilometer-long new Railway line between Telapur-Patanchera was opened during his tenure.[11]
The Diesel Loco Shed in Pune was started in his tenure.
After the death of son Sanjay Gandhi in a plane crash, Indira Gandhi made Tripathi the executive president.[12] But, after the Assassination of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi sworn in as Congress President and Prime Minister of India, Tripathi made conflict with him. In November 1986, he resigned.[5]
He authored following works: