Governor had long tenure in Maharastra Legislative Council

Patna, Jun 22 (UNI) Mr R S Gavai, who took oath as Bihar Governor this evening, had a two-decades stint in the state Legislative Council of Maharastra and had also participicated in the freedom struggle.

Born on October 30, 1929 at Darapur in Amravati district of Maharastra, he graduated from Nagpur University before joining active politics.

An agriculturalist by profession, Mr Gayai was elected to Maharashtra Legislative Council for the first time in 1964.

From 1968 to 1978 he was Deputy Chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council, while he was elected to Chairman of the House in 1978 and continued holding the post till 1984.

He was elected to 12th Lok Sabha in 1998 and member of the Consultative Committee of Ministry of Agriculture during 1998-99.

Mr Gavai has authored a book ''Five year plan in relation to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.'' Married to Ms Kamlavati Devi in 1959, he has two sons and a daughter.

UNI XC-RS SJC VD RK1745