Quick Facts
Biography
Ram Naik (born 16 April 1934) is a veteran Indian politician from the BJP, presently the Governor of Uttar Pradesh
Political career
Ram Naik was a member of the 13th Lok Sabha and was Minister of Oil and Natural Gas in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet (1999-2004). He was instrumental in introducing Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme. He was the BJP candidate for elections to the 14th Lok Sabha representing Mumbai North, but lost to famous Bollywood actor Govinda, a INC candidate from Virar.
A Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteer since childhood, he holds a law degree. He started his political career with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1964 and was involved in organizing a group of rail commuters in Mumbai. He represented Borivli in the state assembly in 1978 and was re-elected twice, before becoming Minister of State for Railways in 1998, when he was influential in forming the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation.
Ram Naik announced in September 2013 that he will not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha Polls. On 14 July 2014 he was named as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.
Controversies
Within a few months of his being appointed as governor, he stated that "The Ram Temple should be built as soon as possible, this is what the people of this country want and their wishes should be fulfilled." The theme was immediately backed up by Hindutva groups. Subsequently, his Hindutva remarks seems to have been reined in by Narendra Modi.
He was born in Atpadi, in Sangli district of Maharashtra state. He married Kunda Naik on 17 May 1960 and has two daughters.
Positions held
- 1969-1977 - Organising Secretary, Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Mumbai
- 1977-78 - General Secretary, Janata Party, Mumbai
- 1978-1989 - Member, Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra (3 terms)
- 1979-1980 - President, Janata Party, Mumbai
- 1980-1986 - President, BJP, Mumbai
- 1986-1989 - Vice President, BJP, Maharashtra
- 1989 - Elected to 9th Lok Sabha
- 1991 - Elected to 10th Lok Sabha
- 1999 - Elected to 13th Lok Sabha
- 1999-2004 - Union Cabinet Minister, Petroleum and Natural Gas
- since 2004 - President, All India Disciplinary Committee of BJP
- 2014- Governor of Uttar Pradesh