Chander Kumar

Chaudhary Chander Kumar (born 8 May 1944 in Dhan, Kangra) serves as Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Jawali. Previously he was elected as MLA from Guler constituency for 5 terms between 1983 and 2004. He also served as Minister in serving key portfolios like Higher Education, Health, Environment and so on. He represented the Kangra constituency of Himachal Pradesh as a Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2009.

Chander Kumar
Cabinet Minister, Government of Himachal Pradesh[1]
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 January 2023
Governor	Rajendra Arlekar Shiv Pratap Shukla
Cabinet	Sukhu ministry
Chief Minister	Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Ministry and Departments	Agriculture Animal Husbandry
Protem Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
In office 19 December 2022 – 05 January 2023
Chief Minister	Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Preceded by	Vipin Singh Parmar, BJP
Succeeded by	Kuldeep Singh Pathania, INC
Member of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 December 2022
Preceded by	Arjun Singh
Constituency	Jawali
In office 1983–1990
Constituency	Guler constituency
In office 1993–2004
Constituency	Guler constituency
Cabinet Minister, Higher Education and Public Relations (Himachal Pradesh)
In office 2003–2004
Chief Minister	Virbhadra Singh
Cabinet Minister, Forest & Environment (Himachal Pradesh)
In office 1998–1999
Chief Minister	Virbhadra Singh
Cabinet Minister, Irrigation, Public Health, Science & Technology (Himachal Pradesh)
In office 1993–1998
Chief Minister	Virbhadra Singh
Cabinet Minister, Power & Projects (Himachal Pradesh)
In office 1989–1990
Chief Minister	Virbhadra Singh
Minister of State, Forests (Himachal Pradesh)
In office 1984–1985
Chief Minister	Virbhadra Singh
Minister of State, Agriculture (Himachal Pradesh)
In office 1983–1984
Chief Minister	Virbhadra Singh
Member of parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 2004–2009
Preceded by	Shanta Kumar
Succeeded by	Rajan Sushant
Constituency	Kangra
Personal details
Born	(1944-05-08) 8 May 1944 (age 81) Dhan, Distt. Kangra (Himachal Pradesh)
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse	Krishna Chaudhary
Children	Neeraj Bharti, Sonima Bharti
Residence(s)	Village - Dhan, P.O. - Matlhar, Teh- Jawali, Dist - Kangra, (Himachal Pradesh) Present "MLA" of JAWALI CONSTITUENCY
Alma mater	M.A., M.Ed., LLB Educated at Punjab University, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
Source: [permanent dead link]]

Early political career

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts (HPU)
• 1966: Master Of Arts Geography (Punjab University)
• 1967: M.Ed.
• 1980: LLB (HPU)

Personal background

He was married to Smt. Krishna Chaudhary on 2 March 1976. His son Neeraj Bharti was Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Department of Education) elected from Jawali Constituency of district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh until 2017. His daughter in law Monika Bharti is former Congress Youth President (Himachal Pradesh).

In the November 2022 assembly elections, Kumar was the Indian National Congress candidate from Jawali constituency^[2] and won from Sanjay Guleria of the Bhartiya Janta party.

Publications

Articles on land use planning, forests and environment Literary, Artistic & Scientific Accomplishments Himurja; handpump technology for hilly areas

Other Information

Was actively involved in the policy document of Himalayan Sustained Development of Ecology and Forestry Authority; Water- shed programme in the Himalayan Region including Hand pump Technology for driving water supply; Joint Convener, National Convention on Education; taught in St. Beed's College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh; initiated reform measures for the improvement of higher and technical education in Himachal Pradesh; Vice Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) 1982-85

Political career

Posts held

• 1951 Secretary, Praja Socialist Party (P.S.P.), Distt. Ballia
• 1982-1984 Minister of State, Agriculture and Forestry, Government of Himachal Pradesh
• 1984-1985 Minister of State, Forests, Government of Himachal Pradesh
• 1985-1989 Member, Committee on Energy Member, Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (four terms)
• 1989-1990 Cabinet Minister, Power and Projects, Government of Himachal Pradesh
• 1993-1998 Cabinet Minister, Irrigation, Public Health, Science and Technology, Government of Himachal Pradesh
• 1998-1999 Cabinet Minister, Forest and Environment, Government of Himachal Pradesh
• 2003-2004 Member, Committee on Estimates Member, Committee on Official Language
• 2004 Elected to 14th Lok Sabha Member, Committee on Tourism Deputy Minister, Higher Education and Public Relations, Government of Himachal Pradesh
• 2007-2009 Member, Standing Committee on Energy
• 2022 onwards Member of Himachal Legislative assembly
• 2022 As Protem speaker of Himachal Legislative assembly
• 2022 Minister of State, Agriculture and Forestry, Animal Husbandry Government of Himachal Pradesh

Electoral history

2022

Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, 2022: Jawali constituency

Party		Name	Votes	Votes %
	Indian National Congress	Chander Kumar	38243	51.22%
	Bharatiya Janata Party	Sanjay Kumar Guleria	35212	47.16%
	Himachal Jan Kranti Party	Arun Kumar	306	0.41%
	Aam Aadmi Party	Baldev Raj	277	0.37%
	Bahujan Samaj Party	Bhir Singh	258	0.35%
	None of the Above	NOTA	373	0.5%
Margin			3031	4.05%
Total Votes Polled			74669	74.98%
Electors			99,572

2017

Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, 2017: Guler constituency

Party		Name	Votes	Votes %
	Bharatiya Janta Party	Arjun Singh	36,999	55.3%
	Indian National Congress	Chander Kumar	28,786	43.0%
	Independent	Rakesh Kumar	315	0.5%
	Communist Party Of India	Rustam Singh	314	0.5%
	Bahujan Samaj Party	Manjana Devi	266	0.4%
	Navbharat Ekta Dal	Harbans Lal Dhiman	236	0.4%
Margin			8,213	12.3%
Total Votes Polled			66,916	79.7%
Electors			84,616

2014

2014 Indian general elections: Kangra^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	BJP	Shanta Kumar	4,56,163	57.06	+8.37
	INC	Chander Kumar	2,86,091	35.79	−9.76
	AAP	Dr. Rajan Sushant	24,430	3.06	+3.06
	BSP	Lal Hussain	5,949	0.74	−1.19
	IND.	Bhupinder Mehra	5,585	0.70	+0.70
	NOTA	None of the Above	8,704	1.09	+1.09
Majority			1,70,072	21.27	+18.13
Turnout			7,99,445	63.52	+8.37
	BJP hold		Swing	+8.37

2009

2009 Indian general elections: Kangra^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	BJP	Dr. Rajan Sushant	3,22,254	48.69
	INC	Chander Kumar	3,01,475	45.55
	BSP	Col. Narinder Singh Pathania	12,745	1.93
	IND.	Roshan Lal	8,283	1.25
	LJP	Keshab	7,720	1.17
Majority			20,779	3.14
Turnout			6,61,847	55.15
	BJP gain from INC		Swing

2004

2004 Indian general election: Kangra

Party		Candidate Name	Votes	Votes %
	Indian National Congress	Chander Kumar	314,555	49.1%
	Bharatiya Janta Party	Shanta Kumar	296,764	46.3%
	Bahujan Samaj Party	Lt. Col. Shakti Chand Chaudhary ( RETD.)	10,860	1.7%
	Independent	Fakir Chand	10,594	1.7%
	Samajwadi Party	Roshan Rana	7,092	1.1%
	Independent	Dhani Ram	3,312	0.5%
Majority			17,791	2.8%
Turnout			6,40,345	62.0%

2003

Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, 2003: Guler constituency

Party		Name	Votes	Votes %
	Indian National Congress	Chander Kumar	21,936	54.5%
	Bharatiya Janta Party	Harbans Singh	16,002	39.8%
	Samajwadi Party	Joginder Singh Pathania	903	2.2%
	Communist Party Of India	Azad Kumar	495	1.2%
	Nationalist Congress Party	Malook Singh	350	0.9%
	Lok Jan Shakti Party	Pawan Kumar	319	0.8%
	Bahujan Samaj Party	Ram Rattan	249	0.6%
Margin			5,934	14.7%
Total Votes Polled			40,308	77.5%
Electors			51,987

1998

Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, 1998: Guler constituency

Party		Name	Votes	Votes %
	Indian National Congress	Chander Kumar	18,674	56.7%
	Bharatiya Janta Party	Harbans Singh Rana	13,806	41.9%
	Communist Party Of India	Azad Kumar	194	0.6%
	Independent	Pratap Chand	113	0.3%
	All India Rashtriya Janata Party	Bachittar Singh	109	0.3%
	Independent	Shiv Chander Singh	56	0.2%
Margin			4,868	14.6%
Total Votes Polled			33,267	74.3%
Electors			44,800

1993

Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, 1993: Guler constituency

Party		Name	Votes	Votes %
	Indian National Congress	Chander Kumar	19,051	61.3%
	Bharatiya Janta Party	Harbans Rana	10,308	33.1%
	Independent	Gulshan	941	3.0%
	Bahujan Samaj Party	Gurcharandass	595	1.9%
	Doordarshi Party	Sunil Kumar	113	0.4%
	Independent	Partep Singh	93	0.3%
Margin			8,743	27.9%
Total Votes Polled			31,308	79.2%
Electors			39,548

1990

Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, 1990: Guler constituency

Party		Name	Votes	Votes %
	Bharatiya Janta Party	Harbans Singh Rana	15,140	53.8%
	Indian National Congress	Chander Kumar	12,099	43.0%
	Bahujan Samaj Party	Gurcharan Dass	499	1.8%
	Doordarshi Party	Sunil Kumar	273	1.0%
	Independent	Chain Singh Guleria	128	0.5%
Margin			3,041	10.7%
Total Votes Polled			28,389	74.1%
Electors			38,314

1985

Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, 1985: Guler constituency

Party		Name	Votes	Votes %
	Indian National Congress	Chander Kumar	12,223	56.0%
	Bharatiya Janta Party	Harbans Singh Rana	9,022	41.3%
	Independent	Joginder Singh Pathania	310	1.4%
	Independent	Tilak Raj	279	1.3%
Margin			3,201	14.5%
Total Votes Polled			22,037	78.0%
Electors			28,271

1982

Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, 1982: Guler constituency

Party		Name	Votes	Votes %
	Indian National Congress	Chander Kumar	8,867	45.4%
	Independent	Harbans Singh Rana	5,775	29.6%
	Bharatiya Janta Party	Raghubir Singh	4,035	20.7%
	Independent	Parkash Chand	482	2.5%
	Lok Dal	Rajinder Singh	159	0.8%
	Janta Party	Rakesh Narayana	121	0.6%
	Independent	Gurdial	99	0.5%
Margin			3,092	15.6%
Total Votes Polled			19,787	77.3%
Electors			25,598

1977

Himachal Pradesh Assembly election, 1977: Guler constituency

Party		Name	Votes	Votes %
	Janta Party	Harbans Singh	6,649	45.1%
	Independent	Chander Kumar	5,905	40.0%
	Indian National Congress	Kuldip Singh	1,718	11.6%
	Independent	Mani Ram	238	1.6%
	Independent	Narinder Kumar	168	1.1%
	Independent	Rajender Singh	79	0.5%
Margin			744	5.0%
Total Votes Polled			15,030	65.6%
Electors			22,910