Shanta Kumar

Shanta Kumar Biography

Shanta Kumar is a prominent politician and parliamentarian from Himachal Pradesh who served as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh twice during 22 June 1977 – 14 February 1980 and 5 March 1990 – 15 December 1992. As a cabinet minister too, he has served Himachal Pradesh. He has authored a few books also. As a prominent politician belonging to BJP he has been elected to Lok sabha for four terms – 1989, 1998, 1999 and 2014 and he was chosen from Kangra constituency, his hometown. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh in 2008.

Shanta Kumar was born in 1934 in Garhjamula, Kangra. Jagannath Sharma and Kaushalya Devi were his parents. He got associated with active politics since 1963, when he was elected as a Panch in Garhjamula Gram Panchayat. Later he became a member of the Panchayat Samiti in Bhawarna and was later elected to president of Zilla Parishad post in 1965, where he served for one year. In 1972 he got elected to Himachal Legislative Assembly and served as an MLA for next 13 years. He became the Chief Minister in 1977 and held the position till 1980. He lost power in the state assembly elections of 1980 and served as the leader of opposition till 1985.

He came to power once again in 1990 state assembly elections. He was elected for the next term in 1990 and sworn in as the chief minister for the second time. He was elected to parliament for the first time in 1989 from Kangra constituency and got re-elected for three terms later.

Published: N/A

Updated: July 08, 2014