H. K. L. Bhagat

Hari Krishan Lal Bhagat (4 April 1921 29 October 2005) was an Indian politician of the Congress party. He served as the Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Delhi, the Chief Whip of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC), and as a six-time MP and Union minister for 22 years. Hailed as the “Uncrowned King Of Delhi" and "Kingmaker", Bhagat was commonly known for being a successful loyalist to Indira Gandhi and maintained unparalleled influence in Delhi and the Congress Party throughout the 1970s and 80s. During his time as a politician, Bhagat reigned massive influence in Delhi, and it's often alleged that no Delhi politician could start their careers without the approval of Bhagat, thus giving him the name "Kingmaker". Bhagat's career reached its peak in the 1984 election, in which his victory for the East Delhi seat was second largest out of all 543 victories in the entire country. Throughout his career in politics, Bhagat held several different ministerial roles. Bhagat's career declined in the early 1990s after he was named in several commissions investigating the role of Congress politicians during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. His alleged role in the riots is controversial, though he was cleared by the government in two trials in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Career Born in West Punjab, British India (now Pakistan), Bhagat moved to Delhi in 1947 following partition and quickly became active in the politics of the area. A strong Indira Gandhi loyalist, and strong leader in Delhi in the 1970s and 1980s, Bhagat won six consecutive elections by large margins, and was responsible for a Congress comeback in the 1980 and 1983 elections in Delhi.

Bhagat's career declined after losing from East Delhi in 1991. Towards the end of his political career, he was named by the Nanavati Commission for an alleged involvement in the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots.

In the 1984 election, Bhagat won the East Delhi district once again, this time with 73% of the vote: the second largest victory in the country. Another victory was scored by him in 1989, but the emergence of numerous local and national political parties had resulted in Bhagat and the Congress vote being wrested by other parties, decreasing his vote share. He ran for a final time in 1991, but the fallout of reports over his actions in the 1984 riots, as well as a general decline of the Congress party post-Gandhi had seen Bhagat defeated, after 11 years of direct rule, and 17 non-continuous years of power as an MP for East Delhi alone.

Bhagat began to suffer from a decline in health following his leave from Congress in 1997. Bhagat died in a hospital after prolonged illness and he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He is survived by his son, DPCC gen secretary Deepak Bhagat.

Electoral history

10th Lok Sabha: 1991 General Elections

9th Lok Sabha: 1989 General Elections

8th Lok Sabha: 1984 General Elections

7th Lok Sabha: 1980 General Elections

6th Lok Sabha: 1977 General Elections

5th Lok Sabha: 1971 General Elections