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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{More sources|date=March 2026}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Prem Kumar Dhumal
| name = Prem Kumar Dhumal
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| alt = Prem Kumar Dhumal in 2008
| alt = Prem Kumar Dhumal in 2008
| caption = Dhumal in 2008
| caption = Dhumal in 2008
| constituency = [[Bamsan (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bamsan]]
| governor = [[Urmila Singh]] (from 2010)<br>[[Prabha Rau]] (till 2010)
| predecessor = [[Virbhadra Singh]]
| predecessor = [[Virbhadra Singh]]
| succeeding = <!--For President-elect or equivalent-->
| succeeding = <!--For President-elect or equivalent-->
| successor = [[Virbhadra Singh]]
| successor = [[Virbhadra Singh]]
| footnotes =
| signature = Signature_of_Prem_Kumar_Dhumal.svg
| signature = Signature_of_Prem_Kumar_Dhumal.svg
| signature_alt =
| constituency2 = [[Bamsan (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bamsan]]
| predecessor2 = [[Virbhadra Singh]]
| predecessor2 = [[Virbhadra Singh]]
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| successor2 = [[Virbhadra Singh]]
| successor2 = [[Virbhadra Singh]]
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| term_start4 = 1989
| term_start4 = 1989
| term_end4 = 1996
| term_end4 = 1996
| term_start3 = 2007
| term_start3 = 2007
| term_end3 = 2008
| term_end3 = 2008
| predecessor4 = [[Narain Chand]]
| predecessor4 = [[Narain Chand Parashar|Narain Chand]]
| successor4 = [[Vikram Singh (Himachal Pradesh politician)|Vikram Singh]]
| successor4 = Vikram Singh
| predecessor3 = [[Suresh Chandel]]
| predecessor3 = [[Suresh Chandel]]
| successor3 = [[Anurag Thakur]]
| successor3 = [[Anurag Thakur]]
| constituency3 = [[Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha constituency)|Hamirpur]]
| constituency3 = [[Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha constituency|Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh]]
| constituency4 = [[Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha constituency)|Hamirpur]]
| constituency4 = [[Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha constituency|Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1944|4|10|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1944|4|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Shamirpur|Samirpur]],<br/> [[Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh|Hamirpur district]], [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br/>(now in [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]])
| birth_place = [[Samirpur]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br>(present-day [[Himachal Pradesh]], India)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| nationality = Indian
| nationality = Indian
| otherparty = <!--For additional political affiliations-->
| spouse = {{marriage|Sheela Dhumal|1972}}
| spouse = Sheela Dhumal
| residence = [[New Delhi|301, Himachal Sadan, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi]]
| partner = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married-->
| children = 2, including [[Anurag Thakur]]
| relations =
| alma_mater = [[M.A.]] in [[Doaba College]], [[Jalandhar]]<br />[[LL.B.]] in [[Guru Nanak Dev University]], [[Amritsar]]
| children = Two sons, Arun and [[Anurag Thakur|Anurag]]
| alma_mater = M.A. from Doaba College, Jalandhar<br />LL.B. from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
| occupation = Politician
| occupation = Politician
| profession = Teacher
| profession = Teacher
| website =  
| term6 = 2 January 2013 18 December 2017
| honorific-prefix =  
| office5 = LOP in Himachal Assembly
| honorific-suffix =
| term5  = 2003-07
| term_start = 30 December 2007
| term_start = 30 December 2007
| term_end = 25 December 2012
| term_end = 25 December 2012
| term_start2 = 24 March 1998
| term_start2 = 24 March 1998
| term_end2 = 5 March 2003
| term_end2 = 5 March 2003
| governor2 = [[Suraj Bhan]] (2000–2003)<br>[[Vishnu Kant Shastri]] (1999–2000)<br>[[V. S. Ramadevi]] (1998–1999)
}}
}}


'''Prem Kumar Dhumal''' (pronounced {{IPA-hi|preːmə kʊmaːrə d̪ʱuːmələ|}}; born 10 April 1944) is an Indian politician and was the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s Chief Ministerial candidate for the [[2017 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2017 Himachal Assembly Election]], in which he lost his seat.He previously served twice as [[List of Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh|Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh]], from March 1998 to March 2003 and again from 1 January 2008 to 25 December 2012.
'''Prem Kumar Dhumal''' (pronounced {{IPA|hi|preːmə kʊmaːrə d̪ʱuːmələ|}}; born 10 April 1944) is an Indian politician who has twice served as the [[List of Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh|Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh]], from March 1998 to March 2003 and again from 1 January 2008 to 25 December 2012. He was the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s Chief Ministerial candidate for the [[2017 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2017 Himachal Assembly Election]], in which he lost his seat.
 
As chief minister of Himachal, its phone tapping scandal took place, where phones of over 1100 civilians were illegally recorded, where permission was only taken for around 170 phones. BJP's Shanta Kumar also requested to disclose names of people whose phones were tapped during Dhumal's tenure.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/name-those-whose-phones-were-tapped-during-dhumal-regime-says-shanta-111843|title=phone tapped during dhumal regime|website=tribuneindia.com}}</ref> He was rivalled by [[Virbhadra Singh]] of Congress.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Prem Kumar Dhumal was born on 10 April 1944 in Samirpur village, [[Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh|Hamirpur district]].<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> His father's name was Capt Mahant Ram and mother's name Phulmu Devi.<ref name="Dhumal Reference2">{{cite news |title=Members : Lok Sabha |url=http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4230&lastls=14 |access-date=24 February 2021 |work=164.100.47.194 |publisher=Lok Sabha}}</ref> He has M.A.(Eng), and LL.B. degrees following his education at [[Doaba College]] in [[Jalandhar]] and [[Guru Nanak Dev University]], [[Amritsar]]<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" />.<ref name="hpcm">{{cite web|url=http://hpvidhansabha.nic.in/1.asp |title=Hon'ble Minister, Himachal Pradesh |publisher=Hpvidhansabha.nic.in |access-date=2013-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414095917/http://hpvidhansabha.nic.in/1.asp |archive-date=2012-04-14}}</ref> He became a lecturer at a private college in [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]].<ref name="oneindia">{{cite news |url=http://news.oneindia.in/2007/12/28/dhumal-leads-bjp-to-power-in-hp-1198821772.html |title=Dhumal leads BJP to power in HP |work=News.oneindia.in |date=28 December 2007 |access-date=2013-01-05}}</ref>
Prem Kumar Dhumal was born on 10 April 1944 in Samirpur village, [[Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh|Hamirpur district]].<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> His father's name was Capt. Mahant Ram and mother Phulmu Devi.<ref name="Dhumal Reference2">{{cite news |title=Members : Lok Sabha |url=http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4230&lastls=14 |access-date=24 February 2021 |work=164.100.47.194 |publisher=Lok Sabha}}</ref> He has M.A. (Eng), and LL.B. degrees following his education at [[Doaba College]] in [[Jalandhar]] and [[Guru Nanak Dev University]], [[Amritsar]].<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /><ref name="hpcm">{{cite web|url=http://hpvidhansabha.nic.in/1.asp |title=Hon'ble Minister, Himachal Pradesh |publisher=Hpvidhansabha.nic.in |access-date=5 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414095917/http://hpvidhansabha.nic.in/1.asp |archive-date=14 April 2012}}</ref> He became a lecturer at a private college in [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]].<ref name="oneindia">{{cite news |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2007/12/28/dhumal-leads-bjp-to-power-in-hp-1198821772.html |title=Dhumal leads BJP to power in HP |work=Oneindia |date=28 December 2007 |access-date=5 January 2013 |archive-date=22 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922160526/http://news.oneindia.in/2007/12/28/dhumal-leads-bjp-to-power-in-hp-1198821772.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


Dhumal married Sheela on 23 May 1972,<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /><ref name="hpcm" /> with whom he has two sons, Arun Thakur and [[Anurag Thakur]]. The latter is also a politician and has been a member of the [[14th Lok Sabha|14th]] and [[15th Lok Sabha]]s, as well as [[Minister of Finance (India)]] in Independent Charge.{{cn|date=July 2020}}
Dhumal married Sheela on 23 May 1972,<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /><ref name="hpcm" /> with whom he has two sons, Arun Singh Dhumal and [[Anurag Thakur]]. The latter is also a politician and has been a member of the [[14th Lok Sabha|14th]] and [[15th Lok Sabha]]s, as well as Minister of State [[Minister of Finance (India)|in Finance]] but was elevated to the rank of Cabinet Minister for [[Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (India)|Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs]] and [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Minister of Information and Broadcasting]]  in the July 2021.


==Political career==
==Political career==
Dhumal became vice-president of [[Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha]] in 1982.<ref name="Dhumal Reference1">{{cite news |title=BJP announces Prem Kumar Dhumal as Himachal CM candidate – Mysuru Today |url=https://citytoday.news/bjp-announces-prem-kumar-dhumal-as-himachal-cm-candidate/ |access-date=24 February 2021 |publisher=Citytoday |date=24 February 2021}}</ref> In 1984, he was selected as the candidate for the [[Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hamirpur parliamentary constituency]] when the sitting [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] (MLA), and state stalwart [[Jagdev Chand]], refused to stand.<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" />
Dhumal became vice-president of the [[Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha]] in 1982.<ref name="Dhumal Reference1">{{cite news |title=BJP announces Prem Kumar Dhumal as Himachal CM candidate – Mysuru Today |url=https://citytoday.news/bjp-announces-prem-kumar-dhumal-as-himachal-cm-candidate/ |access-date=24 February 2021 |publisher=Citytoday |date=24 February 2021}}</ref> In 1984, he was selected as the candidate for the [[Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hamirpur parliamentary constituency]] when the sitting [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] (MLA), and state stalwart [[Jagdev Chand]], refused to stand.<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" /> Dhumal lost that election but won in [[1989 Indian general election|1989]] and [[1991 Indian general election|1991]],<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> and before losing the seat to Major General Bikram Singh in the [[1996 Indian general election]].<ref name="oneindia" />
 
Dhumal lost that election, won in [[1989 Indian general election|1989]] and [[1991 Indian general election|1991]],<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> and lost the seat to [[Major General Bikram Singh]] in [[1996 Indian general election|1996]].<ref name="oneindia" />


After the sudden death of [[Jagdev Chand]] in 1993,<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" /> Dhumal became active in state politics.<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" /> He was president of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] in [[Himachal Pradesh]] from 1993 and became the state's Chief Minister in [[1998 elections in India|March 1998]]<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" /> after winning the [[Bamsan (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bamsan]] constituency of the [[Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] with a margin of 18,000 votes.
After the sudden death of [[Jagdev Chand]] in 1993,<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" /> Dhumal became active in state politics.<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" /> Dhumal was elected president of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] in [[Himachal Pradesh]] and became the state's Chief Minister following the [[1998 elections in India|March 1998 state assembly elections]].<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" /> He won the [[Bamsan (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bamsan]] constituency of the [[Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] with a margin of 18,000 votes.


He headed the BJP-[[Himachal Vikas Congress]] coalition government for its full statutory term of five years(1998 to 2003)<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" /> and became Leader of the Opposition when the BJP lost power in 2003<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" />,<ref name="oneindia" /> winning only 16 seats despite support from the NDA Union government.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/03/02/stories/2003030204070800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030430091051/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/03/02/stories/2003030204070800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 April 2003 |title=Why Congress won and BJP lost |first=Harish |last=Khare |date=2 March 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2015-07-27}}</ref>
He headed the BJP-[[Himachal Vikas Congress]] coalition government for its full statutory term of five years, from 1998 to 2003<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" /> and became Leader of the Opposition when the BJP lost power in the 2003 elections,<ref name="Dhumal Reference1" /><ref name="oneindia" /> winning only 16 seats despite support from the [[National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) Union government.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/03/02/stories/2003030204070800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030430091051/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/03/02/stories/2003030204070800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 April 2003 |title=Why Congress won and BJP lost |first=Harish |last=Khare |date=2 March 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>


The period also saw significant infrastructure developments, particularly of roads, and gave rise to Dhumal being called the ''Sadak walla Chief Minister''.<ref name="oneindia" />
His tenure as the chief minister saw significant infrastructure developments, particularly of roads, and gave rise to Dhumal being called the ''Sadak walla Chief Minister''.<ref name="oneindia" />


Dhumal resigned his seat in the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly upon winning the Hamirpur constituency in a 2007 by-election for the [[Lok Sabha]].<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> The by-election came about because of the expulsion of [[Suresh Chandel]], a BJP [[Member of Parliament]] who had been involved in a cash-for-questions scandal.<ref name="oneindia" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jun/05hp.htm |title=HP ex-CM Dhumal wins Hamirpur LS bypoll |work=Rediff |date=5 June 2007}}</ref> A further by-election in May 2008 saw Dhumal replaced as MP by his son, Anurag Thakur.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sixteenth Lok Sabha Members Bioprofile |url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/members/Biography.aspx?mpsno=4249 |publisher=Lok Sabha |access-date=2015-06-12}}</ref>
Dhumal resigned his seat in the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly upon winning the Hamirpur constituency in a 2007 by-election for the [[Lok Sabha]].<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> The by-election came about because of the expulsion of [[Suresh Chandel]], a BJP [[Member of Parliament]] who had been involved in a cash-for-questions scandal.<ref name="oneindia" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jun/05hp.htm |title=HP ex-CM Dhumal wins Hamirpur LS bypoll |work=Rediff |date=5 June 2007}}</ref> A further by-election in May 2008 saw Dhumal replaced as MP by his son, Anurag Thakur.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sixteenth Lok Sabha Members Bioprofile |url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/members/Biography.aspx?mpsno=4249 |publisher=Lok Sabha |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref>


Dhumal became [[Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh]] for a second time after being sworn-in on 30 December 2007 after the BJP won that year's [[2007 elections in India|assembly elections]]<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" />.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |title=Dhumal sworn in Chief Minister |date=31 December 2007 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/dhumal-sworn-in-chief-minister/article1978174.ece |access-date=2015-06-12}}</ref> The BJP lost power in the [[2012 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2012 elections]].<ref>{{cite news |work=Frontline |volume=29 |issue=26 |date=29 December 2012 |title=Cautious in victory |first=T. K. |last=Rajalakshmi |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2926/stories/20130111292602600.htm |access-date=2015-06-12}}</ref>
Dhumal became [[Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh]] for a second time after being sworn in on 30 December 2007 after the BJP won that year's [[2007 elections in India|assembly elections]].<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /><ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |title=Dhumal sworn in Chief Minister |date=31 December 2007 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/dhumal-sworn-in-chief-minister/article1978174.ece |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> The BJP lost power in the [[2012 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2012 elections]].<ref>{{cite news |work=Frontline |volume=29 |issue=26 |date=29 December 2012 |title=Cautious in victory |first=T. K. |last=Rajalakshmi |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2926/stories/20130111292602600.htm |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref>


In the state assembly elections of 2017, Dhumal stood as a BJP candidate in the [[Sujanpur (Himachal Pradesh Assembly constituency)|Sujanpur constituency]] and was the party's proposed candidate for the Chief Ministerial office. Even though the BJP gained majority in the elections, Dhumal lost to a candidate from the Indian National Congress hence thwarting his chances to lead the government for the third time in Himachal Pradesh.<ref>{{cite news |title=CM-designate Dhumal loses in Sujanpur, Himachal Pradesh |first=Vikas |last=Pathak |date=19 December 2017 |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/elections/himachal-pradesh-2017/cm-designate-dhumal-loses-in-sujanpur/article21878300.ece |access-date=2018-01-02}}</ref>
In the state assembly elections of 2017, Dhumal stood as a BJP candidate in the [[Sujanpur (Himachal Pradesh Assembly constituency)|Sujanpur constituency]] and was the party's proposed candidate for the Chief Ministerial office. Even though the BJP gained majority in the elections, Dhumal lost to [[Rajinder Rana]] from the Indian National Congress, thwarting his chances to lead the government for the third time in Himachal Pradesh.<ref>{{cite news |title=CM-designate Dhumal loses in Sujanpur, Himachal Pradesh |first=Vikas |last=Pathak |date=19 December 2017 |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/elections/himachal-pradesh-2017/cm-designate-dhumal-loses-in-sujanpur/article21878300.ece |access-date=2 January 2018}}</ref>


==Personal interests==
==Personal interests==


He has written large number of articles which have been published in different leading newspapers on political, cultural, sports and other national issues from time to time and he was the General Secretary of the college literary society and editor of college magazine.<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> His social and cultural interests include helping the poor sections of the society in getting good education free of cost or at cheaper cost and helping the poorer sections of society in getting their daughter's married.<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> He has special interest in the field of rural development, employment generation, involvement of youth in constructive work and activities, development of tourism, Hydel power in the state, inspire agriculturists to switch over to horticulture, floriculture and heliculture so that they can increase their income.<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> He has interest in reading and listening to good music in free time. He had also been captain of the college volley ball team for three consecutive years and played it up to his university level.
He has written large number of articles which have been published in different leading newspapers on political, cultural, sports and other national issues from time to time and he was the general secretary of the Doaba College literary society and editor of college magazine.<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> His social and cultural interests include helping the poor sections of the society in getting good education free of cost or at cheaper cost and helping the poorer sections of society in getting their daughters married.<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> He has special interest in the field of rural development, employment generation, involvement of youth in constructive work and activities, development of tourism, Hydel power in the state, inspire agriculturists to switch over to horticulture, floriculture and heliculture so that they can increase their income.<ref name="Dhumal Reference2" /> He has interest in reading and listening to good music in free time. He had also been captain of the college volleyball team for three consecutive years and played it up to his university level.


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
{{Commons category}}
* Corruption Issue : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100121/himachal.htm#4
* Corruption Issue : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100121/himachal.htm#4


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{{Current Indian Chief Ministers}}
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{{Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh}}
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[[Category:Chief ministers from Bharatiya Janata Party]]
[[Category:Chief ministers from Bharatiya Janata Party]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Chief ministers of Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:9th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 1989–1991]]
[[Category:10th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 1991–1996]]
[[Category:14th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:India MPs 2004–2009]]
[[Category:Himachal Pradesh MLAs 2007–2012]]
[[Category:Himachal Pradesh MLAs 2007–2012]]
[[Category:Himachal Pradesh MLAs 2012–2017]]
[[Category:Himachal Pradesh MLAs 2012–2017]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Opposition in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Members of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Himachal Pradesh MLAs 1998–2003]]
[[Category:Himachal Pradesh MLAs 2003–2007]]
[[Category:People from Punjab Province (British India)]]

Latest revision as of 07:00, 13 March 2026


Prem Kumar Dhumal
Prem Kumar Dhumal in 2008
Dhumal in 2008
5th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh
In office
30 December 2007 – 25 December 2012
GovernorUrmila Singh (from 2010)
Prabha Rau (till 2010)
Preceded byVirbhadra Singh
Succeeded byVirbhadra Singh
In office
24 March 1998 – 5 March 2003
GovernorSuraj Bhan (2000–2003)
Vishnu Kant Shastri (1999–2000)
V. S. Ramadevi (1998–1999)
Preceded byVirbhadra Singh
Succeeded byVirbhadra Singh
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
2007–2008
Preceded bySuresh Chandel
Succeeded byAnurag Thakur
ConstituencyHamirpur, Himachal Pradesh
In office
1989–1996
Preceded byNarain Chand
Succeeded byVikram Singh
ConstituencyHamirpur, Himachal Pradesh
LOP in Himachal Assembly
In office
2003-07
In office
2 January 2013 18 December 2017
Personal details
Born (1944-04-10) 10 April 1944 (age 82)
Samirpur, Punjab Province, British India
(present-day Himachal Pradesh, India)
NationalityIndian
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)
Sheela Dhumal
(
m. 1972)
Children2, including Anurag Thakur
Residence301, Himachal Sadan, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi
Alma materM.A. in Doaba College, Jalandhar
LL.B. in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionTeacher
Signature

Prem Kumar Dhumal (pronounced hi; born 10 April 1944) is an Indian politician who has twice served as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, from March 1998 to March 2003 and again from 1 January 2008 to 25 December 2012. He was the Bharatiya Janata Party's Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2017 Himachal Assembly Election, in which he lost his seat.

As chief minister of Himachal, its phone tapping scandal took place, where phones of over 1100 civilians were illegally recorded, where permission was only taken for around 170 phones. BJP's Shanta Kumar also requested to disclose names of people whose phones were tapped during Dhumal's tenure.[1] He was rivalled by Virbhadra Singh of Congress.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Prem Kumar Dhumal was born on 10 April 1944 in Samirpur village, Hamirpur district.[2] His father's name was Capt. Mahant Ram and mother Phulmu Devi.[2] He has M.A. (Eng), and LL.B. degrees following his education at Doaba College in Jalandhar and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.[2][3] He became a lecturer at a private college in Punjab.[4]

Dhumal married Sheela on 23 May 1972,[2][3] with whom he has two sons, Arun Singh Dhumal and Anurag Thakur. The latter is also a politician and has been a member of the 14th and 15th Lok Sabhas, as well as Minister of State in Finance but was elevated to the rank of Cabinet Minister for Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the July 2021.

Political career[edit | edit source]

Dhumal became vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in 1982.[5] In 1984, he was selected as the candidate for the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency when the sitting Member of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (MLA), and state stalwart Jagdev Chand, refused to stand.[5] Dhumal lost that election but won in 1989 and 1991,[2] and before losing the seat to Major General Bikram Singh in the 1996 Indian general election.[4]

After the sudden death of Jagdev Chand in 1993,[5] Dhumal became active in state politics.[5] Dhumal was elected president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Himachal Pradesh and became the state's Chief Minister following the March 1998 state assembly elections.[5] He won the Bamsan constituency of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly with a margin of 18,000 votes.

He headed the BJP-Himachal Vikas Congress coalition government for its full statutory term of five years, from 1998 to 2003[5] and became Leader of the Opposition when the BJP lost power in the 2003 elections,[5][4] winning only 16 seats despite support from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Union government.[6]

His tenure as the chief minister saw significant infrastructure developments, particularly of roads, and gave rise to Dhumal being called the Sadak walla Chief Minister.[4]

Dhumal resigned his seat in the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly upon winning the Hamirpur constituency in a 2007 by-election for the Lok Sabha.[2] The by-election came about because of the expulsion of Suresh Chandel, a BJP Member of Parliament who had been involved in a cash-for-questions scandal.[4][7] A further by-election in May 2008 saw Dhumal replaced as MP by his son, Anurag Thakur.[8]

Dhumal became Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh for a second time after being sworn in on 30 December 2007 after the BJP won that year's assembly elections.[2][9] The BJP lost power in the 2012 elections.[10]

In the state assembly elections of 2017, Dhumal stood as a BJP candidate in the Sujanpur constituency and was the party's proposed candidate for the Chief Ministerial office. Even though the BJP gained majority in the elections, Dhumal lost to Rajinder Rana from the Indian National Congress, thwarting his chances to lead the government for the third time in Himachal Pradesh.[11]

Personal interests[edit | edit source]

He has written large number of articles which have been published in different leading newspapers on political, cultural, sports and other national issues from time to time and he was the general secretary of the Doaba College literary society and editor of college magazine.[2] His social and cultural interests include helping the poor sections of the society in getting good education free of cost or at cheaper cost and helping the poorer sections of society in getting their daughters married.[2] He has special interest in the field of rural development, employment generation, involvement of youth in constructive work and activities, development of tourism, Hydel power in the state, inspire agriculturists to switch over to horticulture, floriculture and heliculture so that they can increase their income.[2] He has interest in reading and listening to good music in free time. He had also been captain of the college volleyball team for three consecutive years and played it up to his university level.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "phone tapped during dhumal regime". tribuneindia.com.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 "Members : Lok Sabha". 164.100.47.194. Lok Sabha. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Hon'ble Minister, Himachal Pradesh". Hpvidhansabha.nic.in. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Dhumal leads BJP to power in HP". Oneindia. 28 December 2007. Archived from the original on 22 September 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 "BJP announces Prem Kumar Dhumal as Himachal CM candidate – Mysuru Today". Citytoday. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  6. ↑ Khare, Harish (2 March 2003). "Why Congress won and BJP lost". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 April 2003. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "HP ex-CM Dhumal wins Hamirpur LS bypoll". Rediff. 5 June 2007.
  8. ↑ "Sixteenth Lok Sabha Members Bioprofile". Lok Sabha. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Dhumal sworn in Chief Minister". The Hindu. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  10. ↑ Rajalakshmi, T. K. (29 December 2012). "Cautious in victory". Frontline. Vol. 29, no. 26. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Pathak, Vikas (19 December 2017). "CM-designate Dhumal loses in Sujanpur, Himachal Pradesh". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 January 2018.

External links[edit | edit source]

Preceded by
Virbhadra Singh 		Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh
30 December 2007 - December 2012 		Succeeded by
Virbhadra Singh

Template:Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh

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