PK Dhumal: A 'Road King' chief minister

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister PK Dhumal today stands tallest among the state BJP leaders despite being at least 10 years younger to most of othem.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister PK Dhumal today stands tallest among the state BJP leaders despite being at least 10 years younger to most of othem.

At 58, he is described as 'inexperienced' by his detractors both in BJP and Congress. But his success in running a minority government for full five-year term has proved them wrong. He is most likely to retain the CM's chair if BJP wins this time too.

He is credited with a lot of developmental projects, especially in power and roadways sector and thus has even earned the nickname --'Road King' from his admirers. However, that success has been tainted by corruption charges against him and a few of his Cabinet colleagues.

He was elected to Himachal Assembly in March 1998 and was sworn in as Chief Minister on March 24 the same year.

Chief Minister: He was sworn  in as Himachal Chief Minister on March 24, 1998.

Son of Capt. Mahant Ram, Dhumal was born on April 10, 1944 at village Samirpur in Hamirpur district. An M.A, LLB, he has studied in Doaba  College (Panjab  University),  Jalandhar  and  Guru  Nanak  Dev  University, Amritsar.

A teacher, industrialist and agriculturist, he married Mrs Sheela Devi on May  23, 1972  and today is the father of two  sons.

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Positions held:

-- State Secretary BJYM, 1980-80.
-- Vice President BJYM,  1982-85
-- General  Secretary  BJP,  1985-93  
-- President- BJP 1993-98. 

Lok Sabha: He was elected to  Lok Sabha in 1989 and again in 1991 from Hamirpur  Parliamentary Constituency; 

Legislative Assembly: Elected to Himachal Assembly in March 1998

Chief Minister: He was sworn  in as Himachal Chief Minister on March 24, 1998.