Five-time BJP legislator Jai Ram Thakur is 13th HP CM

Shimla, Dec 27: Most humble and dedicated five-time legislator of BJP Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday took over as Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, replacing six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of Congress party after taking oaths of office and secrecy in gala swearing-in ceremony held here.

Born on January 6, 1965, Thakur hails from Tandi village of Mandi district and has graduated from Himachal Pradesh University.
A post-graduate from Panjab University, Mr Thakur is father of two daughters and comes from a humble farmer background.
Baring 1993, he won all Assembly elections from 1998 to 2017. He was elected from Chachiot (60) constituency till 2012. He was elected from Siraj Assembly segment of Mandi district in 2012 and 2017 this time.
He was elevated to cabinet rank during the Dhumal Government between 2007 and 2012. He served as minister of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development. During his five years tenure as minister in the last BJP Government, his home district figured among 18 top districts in the country and was awarded during the UPA Government.
Beside, Thakur remained BJP state president since January 2010. He was appointed as Chairman of General Development Committee and Vice Chairman of state Civil Supply Corporation Ltd during the BJP tenure.
Thakur was joint secretary of state BJP student wing Akhil Bharitya Vidyarathi Parishad in 1986, Organising Secretary of ABVP Jammu and Kashmir from 1989 to 90. State Secretary of Bhartiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha from 1993 to 1995 and state president of BJYM and president of BJP district Mandi unit.
Thakur's selection has been a bolt from the blue as Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, who was declared as chief ministerial candidate before the election, lost paving the way for the former.
Before the election, Thakur played a strategic role in bringing back the disgruntled party leaders like Maheshwer Singh, Shayma Sharma, Dr Radha Raman Shastri and Dr Rajan Shushant and number of other party activists.
The party won about 14 assembly seats in Parliamentary segment of Mandi out of 17. However, in Kangra and Hamirpur, the party bagged 14 and nine seats and rest eight seats came from Shimla parliamentary segment. UNI