Babulal Gaur

Early life

Babulal Gaur was born on June 2, 1930 at village Naugeer in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh. He has been brought up at Bhopal. Gaur’s educational qualification is B.A. LLB.

Political career

Babulal Gaur was first elected to Vidhan Sabha in a by-election in Bhopal South constituency in year 1974 as an independent supported by Janata Party. He was Minister for Local Administration, Law and Legislative Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, Public Relations, Urban Welfare, Housing (Urban) & Rehabilitation and Bhopal Gas Relief and Rehabilitation from March 7, 1990 to December 15, 1992. Gaur was Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from September 4, 2002 to December 7, 2003.

Awards

Babulal Gaur has been conferred a number of awards for significant works in social and public life. In 1991, Gaur was conferred title of Varshshri in an opinion poll conducted by Nai Duniya, Bhopal (names of 8 persons including Arjun Singh and Madav Rao Scindia were also in contention).

International tours

Babulal Gaur has toured several countries. He visited Russia on Soviet Union’s invitation in year 1989. He attended Commonwealth Parliamentary Federation’s convention in Sri Lanka as a representative of Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. He visited Nepal in 1996. Gaur visited Paris, Brussels, Salzburg, Geneva, Rome, France and Germany on behalf of Madhya Pradesh Parliamentary Board in 1998.

During his Sri Lanka visit, Babulal Gaur was honoured by Singariya Club for climbing up 1999 meter high stairs despite being over 55 years of age. Madhya Pradesh government felicitated him in 1974 as freedom fighter for participating in Goa freedom movement.

Early politics

Gaur has been associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since 1946. He is also founder member of Rashtriya Mazdoor Sangh. He was Secretary of Jan Sangh in 1956. Before becoming politically active, he also worked in Bhopal Textiles Mill and participated in several movements for workers. Gaur also participated in a number of national level movements like agitation against Emergency, Goa Independence and Satyagrahas in Delhi, Beruwadi Saheb Punjab and other states. Gaur was detained for 19 months during Emergency.

Babulal Gaur was elected to Vidhan Sabha for the first time from Bhopal South constituency in 1974. He contested from Govindpura constituency in 1977 and won 7 consecutive elections from there till 2003. He created a record by winning Vidhan Sabha election by 59 thousand 666 votes in 1993. Shri Gaur broke his own record by winning Vidhan Sabha election by 64 thousand 212 votes in 2003. During 10th Vidhan Sabha 1993-98, Babulal Gaur was Chief Whip of BJP Legislature Party, Chairman of Public Accounts Committee, Member of Undertaking Committee, Privilege Committee etc. He was also in charge of urban bodies and State General Secretary the party organisation.

Later politics

Before becoming Leader of Opposition in the 11th Vidhan Sabha 1999-2003, he was also Vice-President of State Bharatiya Janata Party. On December 8, 2003, Gaur was sworn in as Minister for Urban Administration & Development, Law & Legal Affairs, Housing & Environment and Labour & Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief. On June 2, 2004, he was appointed as Minister for Home, Law & Legal Affairs and Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation.

Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh

Babulal Gaur was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from August 23, 2004 to November 29, 2005.

Life as a minister

Gaur was sworn in as Minister for Commerce, Industries, Commercial Taxes, Employment, Public Undertakings and Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation in Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Council of Ministers on December 20, 2008.

Gaur was elected to 14th Vidhan Sabha from Govindpura constituency in year 2013. He took oath as Cabinet Minister on December 21, 2013.

On 29 June 2015, Gaur gave the statement, "Drinking is a fundamental right and it is a status symbol too".