Four-time Haryana MP Chiranji Lal Sharma dead

Born in village Ahulana in district Sonipat on September 23,1923,Sharma was admitted to the hospital in Gurgaon a few days ago following age-related problems.

He was first elected to the Punjab Assembly as an Independent member in 1962 till 1967. From 1962 to 1964,he served as Member,State Transport Authority,Punjab,and from 1962 to 1967 as Member of State Citizens Council.

Sharma joined Congress in 1967 after the formation of Haryana,a year earlier. He was elected to Haryana Assembly in 1972 from Sonepat and was made a Cabinet Minister for Revenue,Public Works (B&R),Technical Education and Education.

He was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Karnal in 1980 and later won in 1984,1989 and 1991 from the same constituency making a record.

He served as Chairman,first sub-committee,and Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Languages.

Sharma’s relations with the Congress soured in 2004 when he was expelled from the party for six years for his alleged anti-party activities during the tenure of another veteran Congressman Bhajan Lal as the state unit chief.

Governor Jagan Nath Pahadia and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda have condoled the death of Sharma.