Army veteran and four-time MP Col. Sonaram Choudhary passes away at 80

Extending condolences, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said: “The news of the demise of former MP of Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha constituency, Colonel Sonaram Chaudhary ji, is extremely saddening. My condolences are with the grief-stricken family. May God grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family”.

Former CM Ashok Gehlot too termed his death as “extremely saddening” saying: “For about 25 years, you made significant contributions to the army, and later to politics and social service. We were also MPs and MLAs together. I pray to God to grant peace to the departed soul and strength and patience to the family in this hour of grief. Om Shanti”.

Born in Jaisalmer’s Mohangarh in 1945, Choudhary studied at the Multipurpose Higher Secondary School and then graduated in Engineering from M.B.M. Engineering College, Jodhpur. He was also granted a Fellowship by the Institute of Engineers. Choudhary was an active sportsperson during his school and college days, and then later in life, he was also an avid golfer, swimmer and traveller.

After completing his education, Choudhary served in the Armed Forces for over 25 years until his premature retirement in 1994. During his time in the Army, he was posted as an engineer in various capacities in Udhampur, New Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh, Bangalore, Jodhpur, etc. He was recipient of three awards, the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) from President of India; Commendation of Chief of Army Staff; and Commendation from Chief of Air Staff.

He then switched to politics “to serve the poor” and contested the 1996 Lok Sabha from Barmer on a Congress ticket, going on to win his first election. He retained this seat in 1998 and 1999 on a Congress ticket, defeating Lokendra Singh Kalvi and Manvendra Singh, respectively. However, he lost the 2004 Lok Sabha election to Manvendra Singh and in 2008, contested the Assembly election from Barmer’s Baytu Assembly seat, going on to win.

He sprung a surprise in 2014 when the BJP fielded him in Barmer against party stalwart Jaswant Singh. In one of the most closely watched contests of the election, Choudhary defeated Singh and Congress’s Harish Chaudhary in a triangular contest.

That election would also turn out to be Choudhary’s last public office. He contested the 2023 Assembly elections from Barmer’s Gudamalani but lost to BJP’s K K Vishnoi by over 15,000 votes; Vishnoi was subsequently made the minister of state for industry and commerce, sports and youth affairs, in the incumbent Sharma government.

Choudhary’s mortal remains were flown to Uttarlai Airbase Thursday afternoon and his body was kept at his Barmer residence for people to pay their respects. His last rites will be performed at his native Mohangarh in Jaisalmer.