Babulal Gaur

Babulal Gaur (born Baburam Yadav; 2 June 1929 – 21 August 2019) was an Indian politician from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who served as the 16th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. He was elected ten times to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, twice from Bhopal South and eight times from Govindpura. He retired from electoral politics in 2018 due to old age.

Gaur was born in the village of Naugir in Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh. He lived in Bhopal since his childhood. Gaur's educational qualifications were Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. Gaur started his political career as a trade union leader. He was brought up at Bhopal. Gaur graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vikram University in Ujjain in 1958 and completed his Bachelor of Laws in 1965, that too from the Vikram University. Gaur was also an agriculturalist by profession.

Member of Legislative Assembly He was first elected to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly in a by-election from Bhopal South in 1974 as an independent candidate supported by Janata Party. Gaur had participated in national level movements such as agitation against Emergency, Goa liberation movement and satyagrahas in Delhi, Punjab and other states. Gaur was detained for 19 months during The Emergency under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). From 1980 onwards, he contested from Govindpura as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and won the seat for eight consecutive elections up to 2013. He created a record by winning Vidhan Sabha election by 59,666 votes in 1993. Gaur broke his own record by winning Vidhan Sabha election by 64,212 votes in 2003.

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 7 March 1990 to 15 December 1992. Gaur was Leader of Opposition from 4 September 2002 to 7 December 2003 in the 11th Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha (1999-2003). Gaur became the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from 23 August 2004 to 29 November 2005 after her.

Personal life and death Gaur had two daughters and a son with wife Prem Devi. He did not contest the State election in 2018 due to illness. due to various age related diseases. He died on 21 August 2019 from cardiac arrest.