Giridhar Gamang

Giridhar Gamang Biography

Giridhar Gamang is a prominent leader from Odisha, who has served as state's chief minister during a very brief period of 17 February 1999 – 6 December 1999. His wife is also active in politics, and a parliamentarian who got elected to 13th Lok Sabha. Giridhar Gamang too is a former parliamentarian, who got elected to Lok Sabha for the first time in 1971 from Koraput, followed by 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2004. Thus he has won 9 parliamentary elections. He represented Indian National Congress, but has now resigned from the party in May, 2015.

Giridhar Gamang was born on 8 April 1943 in Dibirisingi Village, Rayagada District, Odisha. Gamang is an expert in playing "Changu", a traditional musical instrument used by tribals of Koraput district. Former Odisha Chief Minister and nine-time MP, Giridhar has been associated with Indian National Congress for long 43 years till 2015. He got elected to Lok Sabha for the first time in 1971 from Koraput, and has successfully won 8 more times in a row till 2004. He was asked to become the chief minister of Odisha, while he was serving his term as a parliamentarian.

Gamang has now resigned from INC. He accuses that since the time of Vajpayee government's fall due to one vote in 1999, he has been humiliated and lost self-respect. The party didn’t come to his rescue at any point of time, and he can’t approach BJP also, as he has voted against Vajpayee. He had to quit either being CM or the MP office, and become MLA, within 6 months to cast his vote. He plans not to join any political party.

Published: July 28, 2018

Updated: July 28, 2018