Congress veteran Rajendra Prasad Shukla dies

Raipur, Aug 20 (UNI) Veteran Congress leader and first speaker of the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha Rajendra Prasad Shukla died at a private hospital today following a protracted illness.

He was 76 and is survived by wife, three sons and four daughters.

Mr Shukla, who had served as a minister and speaker in undivided Madhya Pradesh, was a writer and a poet. He had written several books, including on parliamentary matters.

Born on February 10, 1930, at Bilaspur, he was associated with the freedom movement during his student life. Later, he also actively participated in 'Bhudan andolan' launched by Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 1952. He began practicing law in 1953.

He was first elected to the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha in 1967 from Lormi constituency, which he represented till 1972. Since 1985 till death, he represented Kota assembly constituency.

Mr Shukla was the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha of undivided Madhya Pradesh from 1985 to 1990. He was also a minister in Madhya Pradesh for a long time.

After formation of Chhattisgarh in November 2000, the Congress veteran was inducted into the Ajit Jogi ministry. However, after one-and-a-half month in the post, he was elected as the first speaker of the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha.

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