26 Facts About Kamla Beniwal

Kamla Beniwal was an Indian independence activist and veteran politician who served as the deputy chief minister of Rajasthan.

Kamla Beniwal served as the governor of three states - Tripura, Gujarat, and Mizoram, between 2009 and 2014, becoming the first woman governor of a northeastern state.

Kamla Beniwal was elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly for seven terms between 1954 and 2003.

Kamla Beniwal was honoured with the Tamra Patra from former prime minister Indira Gandhi for her contributions to the freedom struggle.

Kamla Beniwal was born on 12 January 1927 in Gorir village, Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, into a Hindu Jat family.

Kamla Beniwal was influenced by her father's involvement in the freedom struggle.

Kamla Beniwal was a minister in successive Congress governments in Rajasthan from 1954 onwards, holding various important portfolios including home, medical and health, education and agriculture.

Kamla Beniwal was re-elected multiple times, serving as an MLA for seven terms from various constituencies, primarily Bairath.

Kamla Beniwal initially served as the state minister under Congress government between 1954 to 1980.

Kamla Beniwal became state cabinet minister in 1980 under Jagannath Pahadia ministry.

Between 1980 and 2003, Kamla Beniwal served as state cabinet minister under various governments such as, Hira Lal Devpura, Shiv Charan Mathur, Hari Dev Joshi and Ashok Gehlot.

Kamla Beniwal held various portfolios under cabinet ministership such as Revenue, Tourism, Agriculture, Colonization, Indira Gandhi Canal Project, Energy, Sanskrit Education, Urban Development, etc.

Kamla Beniwal's tenure lasted from 25 January 2003 to 4 December 2003.

Kamla Beniwal held portfolios of Revenue, Colonization, Sanskrit education and Irrigation during deputy chief ministership and at that time Ashok Gehlot was the chief minister.

Kamla Beniwal served as the Governor of Gujarat, Mizoram, and Tripura between 2009 and 2014.

Kamla Beniwal was the first female governor of Tripura and Mizoram.

Kamla Beniwal was appointed as the Governor of Gujarat on 27 November 2009.

Kamla Beniwal's tenure was notable for its strained relations with Narendra Modi's government.

Kamla Beniwal assumed office on 9 July 2014, but was dismissed just a month later on 6 August 2014.

Kamla Beniwal's removal came two months before her term was set to expire.

Kamla Beniwal's removal was seen as a continuation of political tensions stemming from her confrontations with Modi during her tenure in Gujarat.

Kamla Beniwal held several key positions within the Indian National Congress.

Kamla Beniwal served as the president of the Rajasthan Pradesh Mahila Congress, General Secretary of the Jaipur District Rural Congress Committee, and a member of the executive committee of the Jaipur District Rural Congress Committee.

Kamla Beniwal did this under Section 3 of the Gujarat Lokayukta Act, 1986, which gives the governor the right to appoint Lokayukta without consulting the government, when there has been a long delay in making the appointment.

In so doing, Kamla Beniwal bypassed the Narendra Modi government of Gujarat, which had been sitting on the matter since 2004.

Kamla Beniwal died after a brief illness at a private hospital in Jaipur, on 15 May 2024, at the age of 97.