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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ramchandra Singh Deo
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|2|13}}
| birth_place = [[Baikunthpur, Chhattisgarh|Baikunthpur]], [[Korea State]] ({{small| present-day [[Koriya district]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[India]]}})
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|7|20|1930|2|13}}
| death_place = [[Raipur]], [[Chhattisgarh]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Allahabad]] (M.Sc., Ph.D.)
| occupation = Politician, author
| party = {{flagicon image|Indian National Congress Flag.svg}} [[Indian National Congress]]
| office1 = 1st [[Government of Chhattisgarh|Finance Minister of Chhattisgarh]]
| term_start1 = November 2000
| term_end1 = December 2003
| predecessor1 = ''Office established''
| successor1 = [[Amar Agrawal]]
| office2 = [[Government of Madhya Pradesh|Minister of Water Resources, Madhya Pradesh]]
| term_start2 = ?
| term_end2 = 2000
| office3 = [[Member of Legislative Assembly]], [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Undivided Madhya Pradesh]] & [[Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly|Chhattisgarh]]
| term_start3 = 1990
| term_end3 = 2008
| predecessor3 = Dwarika Prasad, [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| successor3 = [[Bhaiyalal Rajwade]]
| constituency3 = [[Baikunthpur, Chhattisgarh Assembly constituency|Baikunthpur]]
| term_start4 = 1967
| term_end4 = 1977
| predecessor4 = Jwala Prasad, [[Praja Socialist Party|PSP]]
| successor4 = Jwala Prasad, [[Janata Party|JP]]
| constituency4 = [[Baikunthpur, Chhattisgarh Assembly constituency|Baikunthpur]]
| native_name = रामचंद्र सिंह देव<br/>कोरिया नरेश
| native_name_lang = hi
| relations = [[Ambica Singh Deo]] (niece)
}}
'''Ramchandra Singh Deo'''{{efn|Hindi: रामचंद्र सिंह देव}} (13 February 1930 – 20 July 2018) also known as '''Koriya Naresh''' was an Indian politician, author, and member of the erstwhile royal family of [[Korea State|Koriya]]. As a leader of the [[Indian National Congress]], he held key state-level portfolios in undivided [[Madhya Pradesh]] and later became the inaugural [[Government of Chhattisgarh|Finance Minister]] of the newly formed state of [[Chhattisgarh]].

== Early life and education ==
Born in [[Baikunthpur, Chhattisgarh|Baikuntpur]], [[Korea State|Koriya State]], on 13 February 1930, Ramchandra Singh Deo completed his [[Master of Science]] and later obtained a Ph.D. in Life Sciences from the [[University of Allahabad]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chhattisgarh's First Finance Minister Ramchandra Singh Deo Dies At 88 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/veteran-chhattisgarh-politician-ramchandra-singh-deo-dies-at-88-1886732 |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref> Before entering politics, he briefly worked as a photographer for acclaimed filmmaker Satyajit Ray.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Scroll |date=2018-07-20 |title=Ramchandra Singh Deo, the first finance minister of Chhattisgarh, dies at 88 |url=https://scroll.in/latest/887297/ramchandra-singh-deo-the-first-finance-minister-of-chhattisgarh-dies-at-88 |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref>

== Political career ==
Singh Deo belonged to the [[Indian National Congress]] and was elected MLA from [[Baikunthpur, Chhattisgarh Assembly constituency|Baikunthpur]] (Koriya) constituency five times between 1967 and 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-20 |title=Ramchandra Singh Deo — Erstwhile king and Chhattisgarh's first finance minister passes away |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ramchandra-singh-deo-an-erstwhile-king-chhattisgarh-first-finance-minister-passes-away-5267008/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> In undivided Madhya Pradesh, he served as Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, known for championing rehabilitation efforts for people displaced by large dam projects.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hindustan Times |first=PTI |date=Oct 13, 2003 |title=Ramchandra Singhdeo |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ramchandra-singhdeo/story-6aYer96vBVmwzcprWqRbLN.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250714120752/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ramchandra-singhdeo/story-6aYer96vBVmwzcprWqRbLN.html |archive-date=14 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025 }}</ref>

Following the [[Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000|formation of Chhattisgarh]] in November 2000, its first Chief Minister [[Ajit Jogi]] appointed him as the state's first Finance Minister. He also held portfolios for Planning, Commercial Tax, and implementation of the 20‑point programme.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Dr. Suresh Prasad Sarangi |date=April 2017 |title=The Role of R.N. Singh Deo in the State Politics of Odisha in the Pre and Post-Independent Political Scenario: A Critical Study |url=https://magazines.odisha.gov.in/orissareview/2017/April/engpdf/The_Role_of_R.N._Singh_Deo.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com |journal=Odisha Review}}</ref>

He retired from electoral politics in [[2008 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election|2008]], lamenting that campaigning had become dependent on distributing alcohol and cash—practices he refused to engage in.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=The Pioneer |first=Staff Reporter |date=21 July 2018 |title=CM grieves demise of Dr Ramchandra Singhdeo |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/raipur/cm-grieves-demise-of-dr-ramchandra-singhdeo.html}}</ref>

== Authorship and advocacy ==
Deo authored several books on economic issues and the socio-political challenges in the [[Bastar district|Bastar region]], especially concerning [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency|Naxalite activities]].<ref name=":0" /> He was widely regarded as an expert in irrigation policy and tribal welfare initiatives.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veteran Congress leader Ramchandra Singhdeo dead |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/veteran-congress-leader-ramchandra-singhdeo-dead-623671/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
He hailed from the royal family of the [[Korea State|Koriya State]], which acceded to India in 1948. Despite this aristocratic background, Singh Deo led a modest lifestyle and earned a reputation as a politician who prioritized the welfare of locals over partisan interests.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh Deo |first=Dr. Ramchandra |title=सभ्यता की हड़बड़ी में |date=January 1, 1982 |language=Hindi |trans-title=Civilisation in Hurry}}</ref>

His niece, [[Ambica Singh Deo]] is also a politician from Chhattisgarh who won the [[2018 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election|2018 Chhattisgarh elections]] from [[Baikunthpur, Chhattisgarh Assembly constituency|Baikunthpur]] as an INC candidate but lost the same seat in [[2023 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election|2023]].

== Death and legacy ==
Singh Deo died on 20 July 2018 around 13:30 IST at Ramkrishna Hospital in [[Raipur]] at the age of 88, following a prolonged illness. The then Chief Minister [[Raman Singh]] paid tributes, noting Singh Deo’s simplicity, integrity, and decades-long public service.<ref>{{Cite news |last=OneIndia Staff |first=Chennabasaveshwar |date=July 20, 2018 |title=Chhattisgarh's former and frst Finance Minister passes away |url=https://www.oneindia.com/raipur/chhattisgarhs-former-and-first-finance-minister-passes-away-2738684.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720055002/https://www.oneindia.com/raipur/chhattisgarhs-former-and-first-finance-minister-passes-away-2738684.html |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |work=OneIndia}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Koriya district]]
[[Category:Finance ministers of Chhattisgarh]]

Ramchandra Singh Deo - Revision history

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