Kushabhau Thakre

Kushabhau Thakre Biography

Kushabhau Thakre was a prominent politician from Dhar, Madhya Pradesh in August 15, 1922. He was a parliamentarian. Associated with Bhartiya Jana Sangh since its inception, he was active in politics since 1950s. He was jailed for 19 months during Emergency in 1977. He served as the President All India Bharatiya Janata Party during the period 1998-2000. A bachelor and a hardcore RSS pracharak, he was a founder member of the Jan Sangh. He passed away on December 28, 2003 in AIIMS, New Delhi.

Kushabhau Thakre was born on August 15, 1922 in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. Dr. Sundar Rao Shripati Rao Thakre and Shanta Bai Sundar Rao Thakre were his parents. His education was completed at Dhar and Gwalior. He started his political career as a Pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1942. He has been a part of Jana Sangh, the political wing of the RSS and later the Janata Party. He became the Secretary of Madhya Pradesh wing of Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1956. He became All India Secretary of the party in 1974. He got arrested and jailed during the Emergency period.

He reached Lok Sabha for the first time in 1979 in a by-election from Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. Soon after the formation of Bharatiya Janata Party, he was appointed as party secretary. He served as party secretary during the period, 1980-1984. Since 1980s, he was a prominent leader of Bharatiya Janata Party. He served as All India Vice-President of the party from 1984 to 1986. He was elected as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1998 and he served the position for next two years. He died December 28, 2003 at the age of 81 after prolonged illness.

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Updated: June 26, 2016