Senior SP leader Ram Govind Chaudhary passes away, last rites will be held on the banks of Saryu on Sunday
Baliya. Senior Samajwadi Party leader, former minister and former leader of opposition in Uttar Pradesh Assembly Ram Govind Chaudhary died on Friday night at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Lucknow. He was admitted in the post-operative ICU of the hospital for several days. After his demise, the mortal remains are likely to reach Ballia by Saturday evening. The last rites will be performed on the banks of Saryu river in his village on Sunday, 27th September.
As soon as the news of Ram Govind Chaudhary’s demise was received, a wave of mourning ran among his supporters and Samajwadi Party workers in entire Uttar Pradesh including Ballia. A large number of people are preparing to reach his village and surrounding areas for the last darshan. Family members, villagers, supporters and leaders belonging to various political parties are likely to participate in the last journey.
Ram Govind Chaudhary breathed his last at PGI, Lucknow at around 10:15 pm on Friday night. He was undergoing treatment in the hospital and was kept in ICU as his condition was critical. SGPGI Director Dr. RK Dhiman confirmed his death. As soon as the news of his death was received, family members, supporters and Samajwadi Party leaders started reaching the hospital.
His mortal remains are being taken from Lucknow to Ballia on Saturday. The mortal remains will be kept for last darshan after reaching the village. People of the area will pay tribute to their long time leader. The last procession will be taken out on Sunday and his last rites will be performed on the banks of river Saryu near the village.
Ram Govind Chaudhary was among the experienced leaders of Uttar Pradesh politics. He started his public life from student politics. While studying at Murali Manohar Town College, Ballia, he became active in student politics. During the year 1971-72, he was prominently active in student union politics and later became the student union president.
After student politics, Ram Govind Chaudhary joined Jaiprakash Narayan’s movement. He was arrested during the Emergency in 1975 and had to stay in jail for about 19 months. Chaudhary’s political life, influenced by socialist ideology, was influenced by Jayaprakash Narayan and former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar.
In the year 1977, he entered the Uttar Pradesh Assembly for the first time by winning the election from Chilkahar Assembly constituency. After this his political journey continued to progress. He was elected MLA a total of eight times. After Chilkahar, he also represented Bansdih assembly constituency.
In his long political career, Ram Govind Chaudhary held many important responsibilities in the Uttar Pradesh government. He was a minister in Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government. In the year 1990-91, he took charge of the Horticulture and Food Processing Department. After this, he was the Child Development and Nutrition Minister in the Mulayam Singh government between 2003 and 2007.
Ram Govind Chaudhary was also made a minister in the Samajwadi Party government led by Akhilesh Yadav. He held the responsibility of important departments during 2012 to 2017. Along with being in power, he also played an active role in the organization and had held various responsibilities including the state president of Samajwadi Party.
After the formation of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, the Samajwadi Party entrusted him with the responsibility of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. He served as the Leader of Opposition from 2017 to 2022. He had a distinct identity in the Assembly due to his speech style, logic and the way he raised grassroots issues.
Many leaders including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, BJP State President Pankaj Chaudhary and Congress State President Ajay Rai have expressed grief over his death. Akhilesh Yadav described him as a struggling leader and remembered his contribution to the socialist movement.
Ram Govind Chaudhary was recognized among the prominent leaders who remained active for a long time in Ballia. His journey started from student politics and reached important positions like Assembly, Ministerial post and Leader of Opposition. In his political career spanning nearly five decades, he remained associated with various movements and political activities.
Now after his death, preparations are being made for the last rites in the village located in Ballia. After the mortal remains reach by Saturday evening, supporters and regional people will pay their last respects. After the last journey on Sunday, his last rites will be performed on the banks of river Saryu.