23 Facts About Sikander Bakht

Sikander Bakht was an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party who served as the 15th governor of Kerala from 2002 until his death.

Sikander Bakht was elected as the Vice President of the BJP, served as its leader in the Rajya Sabha, and as a cabinet minister in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Sikander Bakht was born in Quresh Nagar in Delhi, India in 1918.

Sikander Bakht attended the Anglo Arabic Senior Secondary School, Delhi and completed his Bachelor of Science from the Anglo-Arabic College in Delhi.

Sikander Bakht once said he is a member of BJP and always maintained that India is a land of secularism and supported the ethos of India.

In 1952, Bakht was elected to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi as a Congress candidate.

In 1969 the Congress party split and Sikander Bakht stayed with Congress.

Sikander Bakht was then elected to The Metropolitan Council of Delhi as a Congress candidate.

Sikander Bakht was lodged in the Rohtak Jail until his release in December 1976.

In March 1977, Sikander Bakht was elected to the Lok Sabha as a Janata Party candidate, from Chandni Chowk in New Delhi.

In 1980 the Janta Party split and Sikander Bakht opted to be with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In 1990 Sikander Bakht was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh.

In May 1996, during the first Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ministry, Sikander Bakht served as Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Urban Affairs.

In 1998 Vajpayee was again appointed prime minister and Sikander Bakht was appointed Industry Minister, a post he held until 2002.

Sikander Bakht was the first BJP leader ever to be appointed the governor of Kerala.

Sikander Bakht finished his term in Rajya Sabha on 9 April 2002.

Sikander Bakht was highly popular and served in this post until his death.

Sikander Bakht died in the Medical College Hospital in Kerala's capital city Thiruvananthapuram on 23 February 2004, from complications of intestinal surgery which was performed on 19 February.

Sikander Bakht was the first Governor of Kerala who died in office.

Sikander Bakht was replaced two days later by Karnataka governor T N Chaturvedi.

Antony, at the time of Sikander Bakht's death, had to give into popular demand to order an inquiry to examine if there was any lapse on part of doctors or any other motive.

Sikander Bakht struggled for democracy and the nationalist cause with courage and conviction.

Sikander Bakht rendered distinguished service as a member of my Cabinet for sometime.