K. R. Punia

K. R. Punia
Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly
In office 1987–1989
Constituency	Baroda
Majority	Lok Dal
Personal details
Born	(1936-01-01)1 January 1936 Salhawas, Rohtak district, Punjab Province, British India
Died	18 January 2025(2025-01-18) (aged 89) Panchkula, Haryana, India
Political party	Independent
Other political affiliations	Indian National Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party
Relatives	P. L. Punia

Kirpa Ram Punia (1 January 1936 – 18 January 2025) was an Indian politician. He was a member of Janata Dal in the late 1980s, and served as a minister of industries under the Devi Lal's state government, then Chief Minister of Haryana, from 1987 to 1989.[1][2]

Early life and education

Punia was born on 1 January 1936 in Salhawas, Haryana. He held a PhD, and a Diploma in Russian language and land management from the University of Cambridge.[3]

Politics and career

Punia had worked as a psychologist at the Indian Air Force's selection committee. Later, he joined the Indian Administrative Service, and became an officer.[3] He was a member of the board of directors of Air India.[4]

In 1987, Punia won the 1987 election, with 50,882 of the total 91,066 votes, and became a member of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.[3][5] He became Government of Haryana's minister of industries, and served until his resignation in 1989 in protest to a speech delivered by Om Prakash Chautala.[6]

Punia was close to Ghulam Nabi Azad.[7] That along with his friendship with Madhavrao Scindia helped him join the Indian National Congress in 1991.[8]

In 2005, he ran for the state election to the Haryana Legislative Assembly as an independent candidate to represent the Baroda constituency, and came fourth with 10356 votes (13.67% of the total votes).[9][10]

In 2017, he joined the Bahujan Samaj Party.[11][1] Before joining the BSP, he was a member of the INC party. In December 2018, he quit the Bahujan Samaj Party.[12]

Personal life and death

Punia, a Dalit leader,[12] was the son of Shri Puran Chand Punia.[3] His brother P. L. Punia is a member of the Rajya Sabha—the upper house of the Parliament of India.[13]

Punia died on 18 January 2025, at the age of 89.[14]

See also

• P. L. Punia
• Ghulam Nabi Azad

References

1. "Former Haryana minister Kirpa Ram Punia joins BSP". The New Indian Express. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2021. Punia, who was an industry minister during the Devi Lal government in Haryana, has been made the BSP's campaign in- charge in Haryana, the party's in-charge for Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, Megh Raj, told reporters.
2. "Ex-minister joins BSP". The Tribune (Chandigarh). Retrieved 20 December 2021. Punia, who was a minister in the Devi Lal Cabinet from 1987 to 1989, joined the BSP in the presence of Dr Meghraj,
3. "Haryana Vidhan Sabha WHO'S WHO 1987" (PDF). Research Branch, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Chandigarh. November 1988. pp. 4, 29–30. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
4. "KIRPA RAM P. - South Africa". Retrieved 2 January 2022.
5. "Haryana Assembly Election Results in 1987". Elections in India. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
6. "It's deja vu for Devi Lal family". The Tribune (Chandigarh). 3 November 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2021. Swift developments took place when Chautala decided to contest the Meham (Rohtak) byelection to reach Assembly. His speech in Meham, when he talked about 'kali bhed' (black sheep) in the party, annoyed ministers like his brother Ranjeet, Virender Singh, Ran Singh Maan and Kripa Ram Punia who resigned from the government.
7. "KR Punia, News Photo, Haryana Leader KR Punia (R)". The Times Content Syndication. Retrieved 27 December 2021. Haryana Leader KR Punia (R) addressing a press conference after joining Congress- I at AICC office, New Delhi on April 19, 1991. Ghulam Nabi Azad (L) is also seen.
8. Gupta, Yoginder (2 October 2001). "Scindia's death 'orphans' many Cong leaders". The Tribune (Chandigarh). Retrieved 27 December 2021. Dr K.R. Punia, too enjoyed the patronage of Mr Scindia, who helped him in getting the party ticket during 1991,
9. "State Elections 2005 - Constituency wise detail for 38-Baroda Constituency of Haryana". 29 July 2005. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
10. "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2005 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF HARYANA" (PDF). Election Commission of India. c. 2005. p. 146. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
11. "Former Haryana minister Kirpa Ram Punia joins BSP". Press Trust of India. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
12. "DALIT LEADER PUNIA QUITS BSP, LIKELY TO JOIN DUSHYANT". The Hindustan Times. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2021. ..had joined Congress before joining the BSP about a year ago.
13. "P.L. Punia of Uttar Pradesh contact address & email". No Corruption India. Retrieved 20 December 2021. He was Principal Secretary to Mayawati, and later fell out of favour with her and joined the Congress. Brother of former Haryana minister Kripa Ram Punia.
14. Former minister Kirpa Ram Punia dies at 89 in Panchkula