Thakur Ram Lal

Thakur Ram Lal (7 July 1929 – 6 July 2002) was an Indian politician and a leader of the Indian National Congress in Himachal Pradesh.

He was elected to the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from Jubbal Kotkhai constituency in 1957. Later, he was re-elected to the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from the same constituency in 1962, 1967, 1977, 1980, and 1982.

He became the second Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh on 28 January 1977 and remained in office till 30 April 1977. He was the leader of opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from 29 June 1977 to 13 February 1980. He again became the Chief Minister of the state on 14 February 1980 and remained in office till 7 April 1983.

Later, he served as Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 15 August 1983 to 29 August 1984. His name got etched in infamy, as he appointed the Finance minister of Andhrapradesh Mr. N Baskar Rao as Chief Minister, when the incumbent CM sri. N.T.Rama Rao was getting surgery in the USA. This change was supposedly done at the behest of then Congress Leadership, even when Baskar Rao had no more than 20% of MLAs supporting him. NTR returned to Andhra's capital one week later, but was adamantly denied justice by Ram Lal. Then NTR launched massive campaigning against Ram Lal and Congress. 30 days later, President Zail Singh dismissed Ram Lal, and 3 days later NT Rama Rao again became Chief Minister of Andhra.

He was also Minister of Science and technology.

He died in Shimla following a massive cardiac arrest on 6 July 2002. His grandson, Rohit Thakur is an MLA from Jubbal-Kotkhai.

In addition, he is also Chief Whip in the state government.