Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Indian politician (born 1942)

Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Koshyari in 2019

22nd Governor of Maharashtra
In office
5 September 2019 – 17 February 2023
Chief Minister|

* Devendra Fadnavis
* Uddhav Thackeray
* Eknath Shinde

Preceded by| C. Vidyasagar Rao
Succeeded by| Ramesh Bais
Governor of Goa
(Additional Charge)
In office
18 August 2020 – 6 July 2021
President|

* Ram Nath Kovind

Chief Minister| Pramod Sawant
Preceded by| Satya Pal Malik
Succeeded by| P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
2nd Chief Minister of Uttarakhand
In office
30 October 2001 – 1 March 2002
Preceded by| Nityanand Swami
Succeeded by| N. D. Tiwari
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
26 November 2008 – 16 May 2014
Preceded by| Harish Rawat
Succeeded by| Manorama Dobriyal Sharma
Constituency| Uttarakhand
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
16 May 2014 – 23 May 2019
Preceded by| K. C. Singh Baba
Succeeded by| Ajay Bhatt
Constituency| Nainital–Udhamsingh Nagar
1'st Leader of Opposition, Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly
In office
13 March 2002 – 17 December 2003
Cabinet Minister,Government of Uttarakhand
In office
9 November 2000 – 29 October 2001
Member of Interim Uttarakhand Assembly
In office
9 November 2000 – 1 March 2002
Constituency| MLC
Member of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly
In office
1 March 2002 – 27 November 2008
Succeeded by| Sher Singh Gariya
Constituency| Kapkot
Personal details
Born|  (1942-06-17) 17 June 1942 (age 83)
Bageshwar, United Provinces, British India
(present-day Uttarakhand, India)
Political party| Bharatiya Janata Party
Education| Master of Arts
Alma mater| Agra University (MA)
Occupation| Teacher, Author, Journalist

Bhagat Singh Koshyari (born 17 June 1942) is an Indian politician who served as the 22nd governor of Maharashtra from 2019 to 2023.[1][2] An RSS veteran, Koshyari served as National Vice-President of BJP and party's 3rd State president for Uttarakhand. He also served as 2nd Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal) from 2001 to 2002 and thereafter, was the leader of the opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2003. He also served as an MLC in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council (when Uttarakhand was part of undivided Uttar Pradesh; later continued in Uttarakhand Legislative Council) and MLA in Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. He later served as an MP in Rajya Sabha from 2008 to 2014 from Uttarakhand and then the MP in the 16th Lok Sabha from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar constituency, earning him the distinction of being elected in both houses of State Legislature and both houses of National Parliament respectively.

As Governor of Maharashtra, Koshyari tainted his legacy when he ignored rules and swore in Devendra Fadnavis as CM and Ajit Pawar  as Deputy CM of Maharashtra without his party's consent. He was on the post for less than 80 hours, becoming Deputy CM with the shortest tenure in Devendra Fadnavis led government. Koshyari then played singular role in the dissolution of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. This action received a rap from the SC and was termed as Illegal by the Supreme Court of India in their order dated 11 May 2023.[3]

## Personal and professional life

[edit]

Bhagat Singh Koshyari was born on 17 June 1942 to Gopal Singh Koshyari and Motima Devi at Palanadhura Chetabgarh in Bageshwar district of then United Provinces in British India (present Uttarakhand).[4]

Koshyari holds a master's degree in English and studied at Almora College, Almora (then affiliated with Agra University, now S.S.J. Campus Almora of Kumaon University). During this period, Koshyari was also a general secretary of the students' union of Almora College, Almora, between 1961 and 1962. He has also represented the Executive Council of Kumaon University, from 1979 to 1982, 1982 to 1985 and 1988 to 1991.[4]

He has had a successful career as a teacher and journalist. He had worked as a lecturer at Raja Inter College, Raja Ka Rampur, Etah district, Uttar Pradesh for few years. Koshyari is a founder and managing editor of Parvat Piyush, a weekly published from Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand since 1975. He has also published two books, Uttaranchal Pradesh Kyun? and Uttaranchal Sangharsh Evam Samadhan.[4]

## Political career

[edit]

He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He took part in the struggle against the Emergency and was imprisoned he was detained in Almora and Fatehgarh Central Jail under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), from 3 July 1975 to 23 March 1977.[4]

In May 1997 he became a member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, upper house of legislature of Uttar Pradesh. In 2000, he was appointed minister of Energy, Irrigation, Law, and Legislative Affairs of the newly created state of Uttaranchal. In 2001 he replaced Nityanand Swami as the chief minister of Uttarakhand.[5] He has also served as the President of the BJP of his state. As a result of his party's defeat in the 2002 Assembly elections, he resigned in March 2002 as the chief minister. However, he was elected from Kapkot assembly constituency,[6][7] and became the leader of the opposition of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, till 2007.

In the 2007 Assembly elections in Uttarakhand, he was elected again from Kapkot assembly constituency.[7][8] However, despite the BJP's victory, Koshyari was deprived of the Chief Minister's post by his chief rival, Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri. Media reports have cited that the BJP's central leadership was biased for Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, despite Koshyari supported by RSS and majority of the elected MLAs. In November 2008 he was elected a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttarakhand and remained a member till his election to the Lok Sabha in 2014.[9] He has been appointed a national vice-president of BJP and also BJP chief in Uttarakhand.[10]

In the 2014 Indian general election, he was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha from Nainital Uddhamsingh Nagar, Lok Sabha constituency.[11]

On 5 September 2019, he was appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra. Further, in August 2020 he was also appointed as the Governor of Goa[12] (additional charge). He stepped down as the Governor of Maharashtra on 12 February 2023, a month after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his desire to resign from his post and retire,[13] after many decades as a politician and social activist.

## Social activities

[edit]

He founded various schools in Uttarakhand[14] (Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Pithoragarh, Vivekanand Vidya Mandir Inter College, Pithoragarh; and Saraswati Vihar Higher Secondary School, Nainital).

Even after years in politics, he remains steadfast in his dedication to education. He is currently serving as the Governor of Maharashtra and is the (ex-officio) Chancellor of the University of Mumbai. Since 2019 (during his tenure as the Governor), there have been several crucial developments in the state's higher education atmosphere. These range from the introduction of the NEP 2020, and the setting up of many state cluster universities - Dr. Homi Bhabha State University & HSNC University, Mumbai of which he is the (ex-officio)[15] chancellor.[16][17][18][19][20]

## Controversies

[edit]

While Koshyari served as the governor, he sparked a row in a speech by saying, "There will be no money left, and Mumbai will cease to exist as the financial capital of India, if Rajasthani-Marwaris and Gujaratis are removed from these areas of Maharashtra". This statement received large backlash from the opposition parties; even the ruling BJP distanced itself from the situation. Koshyari later apologised for hurting the sentiments of Marathi people.[21][22] Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray lashed out to the Governor for his insensitive and senile remarks terming it an insult to Marathi pride. [23]

In November 2022, while giving a speech to students of a university, attended by NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Governor Koshyari called Shivaji an olden days idol, sparking a row of discontent over whole Maharashtra.[24]

## See also

[edit]

* Koshyari ministry

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Bhagat Singh Koshyari sworn in as new governor of Maharashtra". Free Press Journal. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
2. ^ Sandhu, Kamaljit Kaur (18 August 2020). "Satya Pal Malik transferred to Meghalaya; Bhagat Singh Koshyari given additional charge as Goa Governor". India Today. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
3. ^ "Maharashtra Governor, Speakers Actions Illegal But Can't Restore Uddhav Govt: Supreme Court". 11 March 2023.
4. ^ a b c d "Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari - Members of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)" (PDF). National Portal of India. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
5. ^ "Former Chief Ministers". Official Website Of the Chief Minister Of Uttarakhand, India. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
6. ^ "1st Vidhan Sabha Members (Hindi)". Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
7. ^ a b "State Elections 2002, 2007 - Partywise Comparison for 42-Kapkot Constituency of Uttarakhand". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
8. ^ "2nd Vidhan Sabha Members (Hindi)". Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
9. ^ "List of Former Members of Rajya Sabha (Term Wise)". Rajya Sabha website. Retrieved 28 May 2014. "no. 482: 26/11/2008 to 25/11/2014"
10. ^ "Bhagat Singh Koshyari likely to be next Uttarakhand BJP chief". The Times of India. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
11. ^ "General Election To Lok Sabha Trends & Result 2014 - Uttarakhand". Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
12. ^ "Bhagat Singh Koshyari assumes additional charge as Goa governor". The Times of India. 19 August 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
13. ^ "Koshyari resigns after Shivaji row: Big win, declares Aaditya, not a favour on Maharashtra, says Raut". India Today. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
14. ^ "Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari Member Of Parliament" (PDF). Retrieved 11 January 2020.
15. ^ "Governor presented the Times Applaud Trendsetters 2022 awards". rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
16. ^ "HSNC Cluster University holds its first General Council Meeting at Mumbai". India Education | Latest Education News | Global Educational News | Recent Educational News. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
17. ^ Rao, Yogita (12 June 2020). "Mumbai: HR, KC colleges now under new HSNC University | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
18. ^ Rodrigues, RonalddateJune 12, 2020. "Governor Koshyari, CM Uddhav Thackeray inaugurate HSNC cluster university". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 14 September 2021.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
19. ^ "Maharashtra gets second cluster university". The Indian Express. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
20. ^ Bhandary, Shreya (12 June 2020). "Second cluster varsity all set to begin admissions". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
21. ^ Saigal, Sonam (30 July 2022). "Mumbai will cease to be financial capital if Gujaratis, Rajasthanis are removed: Maharashtra Governor Koshyari". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
22. ^ "Big row over Maha Governor's remarks, Uddhav, Sule say 'he should be...'". Zee News. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
23. ^ ""Insult To Marathi Pride": Uddhav Thackeray Slams Maharashtra Governor For Controversial Remark". NDTV.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
24. ^ "Governor Koshyari calls Shivaji old icon, Gadkari founder of Modern era". NDTV.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.

Lok Sabha

Preceded by

Karan Chand Singh Baba

|  Member of Parliament
for Nainital–Udhamsingh Nagar
2014 - 2019  | Succeeded by

Ajay Bhatt

Political offices
Preceded by

Nityanand Swami

|  Chief Minister of Uttarakhand
30 October 2001 – 1 March 2002  | Succeeded by

N. D. Tiwari

Preceded by

C. Vidyasagar Rao

|  Governor of Maharashtra
5 September 2019 - 17 February 2023  | Succeeded by

Ramesh Bais

Preceded by

Satya Pal Malik

|  Governor of Goa
Additional Charge
18 August 2020 - 6 July 2021  | Succeeded by

P. S. Sreedharan Pillai

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.

* Uttarakhand NIC.
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Chief ministers of Uttarakhand

Chief Ministers|

1. Nityanand Swami
2. Bhagat Singh Koshyari
3. Narayan Datt Tiwari
4. Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri
5. Ramesh Pokhriyal
6. Vijay Bahuguna
7. Harish Rawat
8. Trivendra Singh Rawat
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10. Pushkar Singh Dhami (incumbent)

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Tripura|

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Uttarakhand|

* Nityanand Swami
* Bhagat Singh Koshyari
* B. C. Khanduri
* Ramesh Pokhriyal
* Trivendra Singh Rawat
* Tirath Singh Rawat
* Pushkar Singh Dhami (incumbent)

Uttar Pradesh|

* Kalyan Singh
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Bharatiya Janata Party

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Members of the 16th Lok Sabha from Uttarakhand

GE 2014|

1. Ajay Tamta
2. Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri
3. Bhagat Singh Koshyari
4. Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah
5. Ramesh Pokhriyal

15th LS members

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Prime ministers|

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Deputy prime ministers|

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Other prominent leaders|

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Current
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* Chowna Mein
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* Brajesh Pathak
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* Samrat Chaudhary
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Current
national spokespersons|

* Anil Baluni
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