Nation is deeply grieved at the passing away of India's longest women chief minister, Sheila Dikshit. The soft-spoken, warm and affable, Sheila Dixit was motherly figure to many. She will be remembered for transforming India's capital, Delhi.She started off as a reluctant politician assisting her father-in-law, a veteran Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Uma Shankar Dikshit, a minster in Indira Gandhi's cabinet.
It was in 1998 assembly election, I first met her in Delhi courtesy. veteran Congress leader Vidhya Stokes. Madame Stokes was appointed as observer for Delhi assembly elections. I was working for a newly launched Hindi daily and assembly election were important for us. We were haunting for some breaking news and it was provided to me by madame Stokes. She hinted that if Congress gets the majority, Sheila Dixit would be the chief minister. We broke this news but were laughed at by the rivals.
Congress was then dominated by the grand old man of Delhi politics and veteran congress leader Jag Pravesh Chandra, a journalist by profession. He had held several important positions in the party. was a member of the Delhi assembly, chairman of the interim metropolitan council and chief executive councilor of Delhi from 1983 to 1990. He was also the leader of opposition in Delhi assembly between 1993 and 1998 when BJP government was in power. As was the Congress practice, Jag Pravesh Chandra was the natural choice for chief minister-ship. Madame Stokes was right. After Congress won the clear majority, Sheila Dixit was chosen as chief minister. Rest is history.
Sheila Dikshit for the first time won from the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh in 1984. She was a close associate of former PM Rajiv Gandhi and a minister in his cabinet.
Born in Punjab's Kapurthala, Sheila Dikshit was credited with many people-friendly programs.Appointed as Kerala's Governor in 2014, Sheila Dixit resigned in just six months.
Earlier this year, Sheila Dikshit contested Lok Sabha election but lost to the BJP's Manoj Tiwari. It was a big setback to her .
It was in 1998 assembly election, I first met her in Delhi courtesy. veteran Congress leader Vidhya Stokes. Madame Stokes was appointed as observer for Delhi assembly elections. I was working for a newly launched Hindi daily and assembly election were important for us. We were haunting for some breaking news and it was provided to me by madame Stokes. She hinted that if Congress gets the majority, Sheila Dixit would be the chief minister. We broke this news but were laughed at by the rivals.
Congress was then dominated by the grand old man of Delhi politics and veteran congress leader Jag Pravesh Chandra, a journalist by profession. He had held several important positions in the party. was a member of the Delhi assembly, chairman of the interim metropolitan council and chief executive councilor of Delhi from 1983 to 1990. He was also the leader of opposition in Delhi assembly between 1993 and 1998 when BJP government was in power. As was the Congress practice, Jag Pravesh Chandra was the natural choice for chief minister-ship. Madame Stokes was right. After Congress won the clear majority, Sheila Dixit was chosen as chief minister. Rest is history.
Sheila Dikshit for the first time won from the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh in 1984. She was a close associate of former PM Rajiv Gandhi and a minister in his cabinet.
Born in Punjab's Kapurthala, Sheila Dikshit was credited with many people-friendly programs.Appointed as Kerala's Governor in 2014, Sheila Dixit resigned in just six months.
Earlier this year, Sheila Dikshit contested Lok Sabha election but lost to the BJP's Manoj Tiwari. It was a big setback to her .