12 Facts About Raman Singh

Dr Raman Singh was born on 15 October 1952 and is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party since 2019 and a member of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly representing Rajnandgaon since 2008 and from Dongargaon from 2004 to 2008.

Raman Singh served as the 2nd and the longest serving Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh for 15 years from 2003 to 2018, Minister of State for Commerce and Industries in the Vajpayee cabinet from 1999 to 2003, Member of the Lok Sabha from Rajnanadgaon from 1999 to 2003 and a member of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Kawardha from 1990 to 1998.

Raman Singh was born in Kawardha to Vighnaharan Singh Thakur, an advocate, and Sudha Singh.

Raman Singh progressed to become a councillor of Kawardha municipality in 1983.

Raman Singh was elected to Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly consecutively in 1990 and 1993 from Kawardha.

Raman Singh was later named as President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the new state of Chhattisgarh, and led the party to a victory in the 2003 state Assembly elections.

Raman Singh entered Vidhan Sabha by contesting bypoll in 2004 from Dongargaon.

Raman Singh has won 3 successive Vidhan Sabha elections - in 2008,2013, and 2018 - from Rajnandgaon seat.

Raman Singh has received praise for his organisational abilities, as reflected in his state's position with regard to implementation of a programme to improve the conditions of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.

Raman Singh banned Naxalite organisations in Chhattisgarh in 2002 under the "Salwa Judum" initiative, a move supported by the opposition party as well, led by Mahendra Karma who was assassinated by Naxalites on 25 May 2013.

Raman Singh was sworn in for his second term on 12 December 2008.

Raman Singh's government had received attention for number of welfare measures like Medical care, food security, the Charan Paduka Yojana that entitles people to free shoes, the Saraswati Cycle Yojana that promises a free bicycle to school going girls, and Mukhya Mantri Teerth Yatra Yojana that allows the elderly to go on their desired pilgrimage, it had introduced in the course of the 15 odd years it had been in power, despite poverty and agrarian distress for 18 years.