Madhavrao Scindia

Madhavrao Scindia Biography

Madhavrao Scindia was a politician and minister of Indian National Congress who died in the plane crash on 1st October 2001 in UP. He served as the minister of railways in office during the period 22 October 1986 – 1 December 1989 in the cabinet of Rajiv Gandhi. He was a descendant of the Scindia dynasty of the Marathas and was the titular Maharaja of Gwalior.

Scindia was born to Vijayaraje Scindia and Jivajirao Scindia, Maharaja of Gwalior. Vasundhara Raje, the current Chief Minister of Rajasthan is her younger sister. Yashodhara Raje, Member of Parliament and active politician is his younger sister. Thus these siblings belonging to the royal family of Gwalior became equally successful in politics as well. His son Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia is also a famous politician right now. Madhavrao Scindia was educated at the Scindia School, and higher studies was completed at Winchester College and New College, Oxford. After Indian Independence, royal family lost their special privileges. Scindia followed the political tradition set by his mother Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia and got elected to Lok Sabha in 1971 from Guna constituency at the age of 26. He contested as an independent with the support of the Jan Sangh.

A nine-term member of the Lok Sabha, Madhavrao Scindia never lost an election since 1971. In 1977, he joined Indian National Congress opposing his family.  In order to avoid a direct contest with his mother, he stood as candidate from neighbouring constituency and won as Congress candidate. In 1984, he massively defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party's Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Congress candidate from Gwalior. After that he contested from either Gwalior or Guna and has won always.

He made his mark as an excellent administrator when he was Minister of Railways in the cabinet of Rajiv Gandhi. He was Minister for Civil Aviation under P. V. Narasimha Rao. He has also served as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India from 1990 to 1993. Scindia was killed in a plane crash on the outskirts of Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh on 1st October 2001 along with all seven board members.           

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Updated: April 02, 2014