Jai Bihari Lal Khachi

Jai Bihari Lal Khachi
Minister for Public Works, Government of Himachal Pradesh
In office
3 December 1993 – 23 March 1998
Chief ministerVirbhadra Singh
Minister for Co-operation and Transport, Government of Himachal Pradesh
In office
16 March 1989 – 5 March 1990
Chief MinisterVirbhadra Singh
Minister for Co-operation, Planning and Implementation of the 20-Point Programme, Government of Himachal Pradesh
In office
8 April 1983 – 8 March 1985
Chief MinisterVirbhadra Singh
Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
In office
1993–2002
Preceded byBhagat Ram Chauhan
Succeeded byVidya Stokes
ConstituencyKumarsain
In office
1982–1990
Preceded byBhaskera Nand
Succeeded byBhagat Ram Chauhan
ConstituencyKumarsain
In office
1972–1977
Preceded byRam Dayal
Succeeded byBhaskera Nand
ConstituencyKumarsain
In office
1967–1972
Preceded byDevi Ram
Succeeded byLal Chand Stokes
ConstituencyTheog
Personal details
Born5 May 1927
Kumarsain, Punjab, British India
(now in Himachal Pradesh, India)
Died11 April 2002(2002-04-11) (aged 74)
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Cause of deathSegment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Political partyIndian National Congress
Alma materSt. Stephen's College, Delhi
University of Delhi
OccupationPolitician

Jai Bihari Lal Khachi or J.B.L Khachi (5 May 1927 – 11 April 2002) was an Indian politician from Kumarsain in Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh, India. He was a former 3 times cabinet minister of Himachal Pradesh and a member of the Indian National Congress.[1]

Early life

J.B.L Khachi was born on 5 May 1927 at Ghumana village of Kumharsain tehsil in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. His father, Hira Nand Khachi, was a man of progressive views and was very disciplined.[2] Khachi became a Law graduate from Lahore. He then pursued his further studies from the University of Delhi.

Political career

After his studies, he returned to Himachal Pradesh and joined the co-operative movement in the state. He contested his first two elections of Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1967 and 1972 as Independent candidate and in both he won. In 1977 he joined Indian National Congress. He was elected 6 times as MLA, one time from Theog constituency in 1967 and 5 times from Kumarsain constituency in 1972, 1982, 1985, 1993 and 1998.[3][4] He also remained 3 times minister in Virbhadra Singh's cabinet.[5]

From left to right: Rajiv Gandhi, Virbhadra Singh, Sat Mahajan (in back), Jai Bihari Lal Khachi and Sagar Chand Nayyar during Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Shimla

J.B.L Khachi and Thakur Sen Negi founded Himachal Pradesh Lok Raj Party (LRP) in 1967. LRP contested the 1971 Lok Sabha elections and the 1972 state assembly elections.

In the 1972 state assembly elections LRP had put up candidates in 16 out of 68 constituencies. Two were elected as MLA from Kinnaur and Arki constituency. The party was dissolved just before the 1977 state assembly elections.

J.B.L Khachi (on left) with Pandit Sant Ram (former Agriculture Minister of Himachal Pradesh)

Apart from being at various times MLA and cabinet minister, he was also the Chairman of Working group (1967–1970), General Secretary of the Progressive front in Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha (1970–1973), President of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Union (1962–1974) and General Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (1990–1993). He had also given speech in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland.

Death

Khachi died of a massive heart attack on the morning of 11 April 2002.[6] At that time Khachi was the sitting MLA of Kumarsain constituency.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hindustan Times (Apple country has produced some formidable leaders)".
  2. ^ Johar, K. L. (1997). Struggles and Memoirs of the Socialists, 1947–1957: Punjab, Pepsu, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Harman Publishing House. ISBN 9788186622193.
  3. ^ "Sitting and previous MLAs from Kumarsain Assembly Constituency". Elections.in. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Sitting and previous MLAs from Theog Assembly Constituency". Elections.in. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Divya Himachal news".
  6. ^ "Tribune India, HP Cong MLA Khachi died".