Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank"
रमेश पोखरियाल "निशंक"
File:Ramesh Pokhriyal.jpg
5th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand
In office
June 27, 2009 – 11 September 2011
Preceded byB. C. Khanduri
Succeeded byB. C. Khanduri
Member of Parliament
for Haridwar (Lok Sabha constituency)
Assumed office
16 May 2014
Preceded byHarish Rawat
Personal details
Born (1958-08-15) 15 August 1958 (age 65)
Pinani, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
SpouseKusum Kanta Pokhriyal
Residence(s)Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank" (Hindi: रमेश पोखरियाल "निशंक"; born August 15, 1958)[1]) is an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from 2009 to 2011. He is a Member of Parliament in 16th Lok Sabha. He represents the Haridwar Parliamentary Constituency of Uttarakhand in Lok Sabha and is a senior member of the Bharatiya Janta Party.[2]

Early life

He was born to Parmanand Pokhriyal and Vishwambhari Devi at Pinani village in Pauri Garhwal district in Uttar Pradesh (presently in Uttarakhand).

Political career

He was elected to the Vidhan Sabha of Uttar Pradesh for the first time in 1991, from Karnaprayag constituency. He was elected again in 1993 and 1996 from the same constituency. In 1997, he became the Minister for Uttaranchal Development in the Uttar Pradesh state government. In 2002, he contested the Uttaranchal Vidhan Sabha election from Thalisain constituency but lost. He contested the 2007 elections to the Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha from the same constituency, this time successfully.[1][3]In 2009 he was given the charge of the Minister for Medical Health and Family Welfare and Ayush. From 2014 onwards positions he hold :Member of Committee on Public Accounts, Chairperson, Committee on Government Assurances & Member of Standing Committee on Rural Development. On may 2014 he was Elected to 16th Lok Sabha.[4]

Chief Ministership

On 27 June 2009 he became the fifth Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.[5] He initiated countless successful efforts during his tenure to bring the Himalayan culture at the International Forum. He was succeeded by B. C. Khanduri.[6]

Controversies

On 3 December 2014, Nishank made controversial statement in Lok Sabha saying "Science is a dwarf in front of astrology. Astrology is the biggest science. It is in fact above science. We should promote it. We speak about nuclear science today. But Sage Kanad conducted nuclear test one lakh years ago."[7][8]

On 10 December 2014, Nishank made another controversial statement saying 'Rupee grew stronger during NDA government and rose from 52 to 63'.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Profile: Steady innings for Pokhriyal in state politics". The Times of India. June 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  2. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haridwar_(Lok_Sabha_constituency)
  3. ^ "Pokhriyal won't be CM candidate". sunday-guardian.com.
  4. ^ http://india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/ramesh-pokhriyal-nishank
  5. ^ "Nishank sworn in as Uttarakhand Chief Minister". The Indian Express. 27 June 2009.
  6. ^ "BC Khanduri takes over as Uttarakhand chief minister". the Times of India. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  7. ^ Astrology is above science, says BJP MP Nishank
  8. ^ In Parliament, BJP MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Says 'Science a Pygmy Compared to Astrology'
  9. ^ [1]

External links

Political offices Preceded byB. C. Khanduri Chief Minister of Uttarakhand 2009 – 2011 Succeeded byB. C. Khanduri

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Chief Ministers from the Bharatiya Janata Party
Members of the 16th Lok Sabha from Uttarakhand
Bharatiya Janata Party
Categories