Ramai Ram (1 January 1944 - 14 July 2022) was an Indian politician from Bihar. He was a prominent Dalit leader. He was associated with many political parties in his 50 year long political career; Janta Paty, Rashtriya Janta Dal, Janata Dal(United) and VIP.[1] He was nine times MLA from Bochahan constituency of Muzaffarpur district in Bihar.

Ramai Ram
Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly
In office
2005–2015
Preceded byMusafir Paswan
Succeeded byBaby Kumari
ConstituencyBochahan
In office
February 2005 – October 2005
ConstituencyBochahan
In office
1980–2005
ConstituencyBochahan
In office
1972–1977
Preceded bySitaram Rajak
Succeeded byKamal Paswan
ConstituencyBochahan
Personal details
Born(1944-01-01)1 January 1944
Muzaffarpur, Bihar Province, British India
Died14 July 2022(2022-07-14) (aged 78)
Patna, Bihar, India
Political partyVIP
Other political
affiliations
Residence(s)Kalibari Road, Mithanpura, Muzaffarpur
ProfessionPolitician

He served as Minister of Land and Revenue in the leadership of Lalu Prasad Yadav. [2]

Personal life

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Ramai Ram was born to Kisuni Ram at Muzaffarpur, Bihar into a Dalit family.[3][4]

His daughter, Geeta Kumari was appointed as a member of the State Transport Authority when he was Transport Minister and later she became MLC from Bihar.[5] His other daughter, Rekha Devi was also MLC in Bihar.

He died at Medanta Hospital in Kankarbagh, Patna on 14 July 2022 at the age of 78.[6][7]

Politics

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  • In 1972 he won for the first time from Bochahan constituency as an independent candidate. He joined Janata Party in 1980 and won from same seat.
  • He again won Bochahan constituency in 1985 from Lok Dal and in 1990 & 1995 from Janata Dal.
  • In 2000 he joined RJD and won from Bochahan and again in 2005. He became president of Bihar Rashtriya Janata Dal when Lalu Yadav was in jail.[8]
  • He left RJD and joined JDU in 2009 along with his daughter, Geeta Kumari.[9] In 2010 he was again elected from Bochahan constituency.
  • He was Bihar Land Reforms and Revenue Minister in Rabri Devi's government from 1999 to 2005 and in first Nitish Kumar govt.[10]
  • In 2009 he joined Congress and fought Indian general elections from Gopalganj Lok Sabha constituency.[11]
  • He was Transport Minister in Jitan Ram Manjhi's government and became President of Bihar Janata Dal (U) in 2017.
  • Ram left JDU and was made state president of Loktantrik Janata Dal. Later he re-joined RJD in 2017.[12]
  • He was member of national executive team of RJD[13]

Controversies

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  • He was criticized for appointing his daughter a non-official as member of State Transport Authority.
  • He was reported under Human Rights Commission for harassing his domestic help.[14]
  • In 2012 he was attacked by a councillor of Muzaffarpur for unknown reasons.[15]
  • He was suspended from JDU under Sharad Yadav along with 21 other leaders for anti-party activities.[16]
  • He demanded separate country, Harijanistan (land for Dalits) after loss of Dalit lives in April 2018 caste protests in India.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "रमई राम की फिर होगी राजद में वापसी, तब रिम्‍स में लालू ने मिलने से किया था इनकार". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  2. ^ "बिहार सरकार के पूर्व मंत्री रमई राम का निधन, लालू, राबड़ी एवं नीतीश कैबिनेट में संभाला अहम विभाग - Former Bihar minister Ramai Ram passed away, Important departments handled in Lalu, Rabri and Nitish cabinet". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Prior to assembly polls Dalit politics warms up in Bihar". Fast Mail News. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  4. ^ Ahmed, Soroor (11 May 2018). "Nitish Kumar's 'Mahadalit' dilemma". National Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  5. ^ Desk, India TV News (10 December 2014). "Bihar Transport Minister Ramai Ram's daughter appointed member of transport authority". India TV News. Retrieved 28 September 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ "Former minister and senior VIP leader Ramai Ram passes away". United News of India.
  7. ^ Kumar, Prakash (14 July 2022). "Ramai Ram Died: पूर्व मंत्री रमई राम का निधन, पटना के मेदांता अस्पताल में ली अंतिम सांस". ABP News (in Hindi). Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  8. ^ Gopal, Surendra (22 December 2017). Mapping Bihar: From Medieval to Modern Times. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-03416-6.
  9. ^ PTI (22 June 2009). "Politics | RJD veteran Ramai Ram, supporters join JD(U)". mint. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  10. ^ Amitabh Srivastava (10 June 2011). "Bihar: Former enemies comprise the bulk of Team Nitish". India Today. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Eight-time Bihar MLA Ramai Ram resigns | India News – Times of India". The Times of India. PTI. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  12. ^ Ramashankar (23 September 2019). "Ex-minister Ramai returns to RJD fold | Patna News – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  13. ^ "RJD announces new national executive team". Outlook. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Bihar minister Ramai Ram lands in trouble". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Councillor arrested for attack on minister's cavalcade". Hindustan Times. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  16. ^ Pioneer, The. "JD(U) suspends Ramai Ram, 20 other rebels". The Pioneer. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  17. ^ Dua, Ruchi (4 April 2018). "Bihar leader demands 'Harijanistan', says Dalits killed in April 2 protests should be declared martyr". India TV. Retrieved 28 September 2020.