Pranab Mukherjee Dies: A Look At His Illustrious Political Career & Landmark Decisions

Former President Pranab Mukherjee (84) who passed away on August 31, has left his mark in India’s political space. Mukherjee passed away at the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital where he was admitted. At the hospital, he also tested positive for coronavirus and was operated upon for removing a blood clot in his brain. Mukherjee’s death marks the end of an era in the Congress, he was among the last of the Congress leaders to have worked closely with Indira Gandhi. Mukherjee’s political journey started in West Bengal when he was the election agent for VK Krishna Menon, who won the Midnapore by-election as an independent candidate. Indira Gandhi brought in the ‘little master’ to the Rajya Sabha as a member of the Bangla Congress, a breakaway Congress group formed in the state back in 1966. He was instrumental in spearheading critical decisions on a range of issues such as administrative reforms, Right to Information, Right to Employment, Food Security, energy security, Information Technology and telecommunication. He was also instrumental in setting up of UIDAI & Metro Rail through chairmanship of over 95 Groups of Ministers constituted for the purpose. Among some of his crucial decisions were setting up regional rural banks (1975) and the EXIM Bank of India as well as National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (1981-82). Watch the video to know more.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2020 01:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).