Sudhakarrao Rajusing Naik (21 August 1934 – 10 May 2001) was an Indian politician from

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...

party who served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 25 June 1991 until 22 February 1993 following the communal riots. He had given the new shape to the Panchayat Raj, started the continuous election process in Panchayat Raj systems all over the state, as desired by the former Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi, decentralisation of power and faster decision making process being motive of bringing back the Panchayat Raj in full-fledged functioning. He is called as the hero of Jalkranti, who started the irrigation revolution in the State of Maharashtra.

Career

He started his political career from his rural base as

Sarpanch A sarpanch ( IAST: ''Sarpañch'' Hindi: ''सरपंच'') or Gram Pradhan or Mukhiya is a decision-maker, elected by the village-level constitutional body of local self-government called the Gram Sabha (village government) in India. The Sarp ...

or village head. He was Member of Legislative Assembly for

Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha The Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha or the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the legislature of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is situated in the Nariman Point area of South Mumbai in the capital Mumbai. Presently, 288 mem ...

from

Pusad (Vidhan Sabha constituency) Pusad Assembly constituency is one of the 288 constituencies of the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha and one of the seven which are located in the Yavatmal district. It is a part of the Yavatmal-Washim (Lok Sabha constituency) with adjoining Washim dist ...

5 times winning elections of 1978, 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1999 elections. He was the Chief Minister during the Mumbai riots of 1992–1993. However, politically, his differences with Sharad Pawar grew, and ultimately he had to resign. At one point, Sudhakarrao made a statement that

Sharad Pawar Sharad Govindrao Pawar (Marathi pronunciation: �əɾəd̪ pəʋaːɾ born 12 December 1940) is an Indian politician. He has served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on four occasions. He has held the posts of Minister of Defence and Mini ...

had asked him to "go easy on

Pappu Kalani Pappu Kalani (born c. 1951) is an Indian criminal-politician from Ulhasnagar. After emerging as the leader of an organized crime syndicate in the 1980s,Quote: Suresh "Pappu" Kalani: a man who is seen as the personification of this lawlessness i ...

". He is also remembered for his work in water conservation. He served as governor of

Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh (; ; "Snow-laden Mountain Province") is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the thirteen mountain states and is characterized by an extreme landscape featuring several peaks ...

from 30 July 1994 to 17 September 1995. In 1998, he was elected as

Member of parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

to the 12th Lok Sabha from

Washim (Lok Sabha constituency) Washim Lok Sabha constituency was a Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituency in Maharashtra state in western India from 1977 for 6th Lok Sabha till 2004 elections to 14t Lok Sabha. It was created in 1977 Lok Sabha elections, with abolishment of t ...

References

External links

Official Biographical Sketch in Lok Sabha Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Naik, Sudhakarrao 1934 births 2001 deaths Chief Ministers of Maharashtra Indian National Congress politicians from Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party politicians from Maharashtra Maharashtra MLAs 1978–1980 Maharashtra MLAs 1980–1985 Maharashtra MLAs 1985–1990 Maharashtra MLAs 1990–1995 Maharashtra MLAs 1999–2004 Governors of Himachal Pradesh India MPs 1998–1999 Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra People from Yavatmal district Chief ministers from Indian National Congress Marathi politicians People from Washim