Jan 29, 2019 11:24:43 (IST)
George Fernandes: A Look Back At The Political Leader And Former Minister In India
George Fernandes rose to political prominence when he led the Bombay Taxi Unions Association and defeated SK Patil, a Congress heavy-weight in the 1967 general election. A fire-brand and hardworking George Fernandes, only 37 then, campaigned tirelessly, covering large swathes of the constituency with his workers getting a 48.5 per cent of the votes. George Fernandes later joined the Janata Dal. He served as Railway Minister in the VP Singh government from 1989 to 1990. He was instrumental in setting up the Konkan Railway project, connecting Mangalore and Bombay. In 1994, George Fernandes formed the Samata Party, which later allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was appointed convenor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and served as the Defence Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government for two terms, between 1998 and 2004. His term was eventful as it witnessed the Kargil War and the Pokhran test.
George Fernandes rose to political prominence when he led the Bombay Taxi Unions Association and defeated SK Patil, a Congress heavy-weight in the 1967 general election. A fire-brand and hardworking George Fernandes, only 37 then, campaigned tirelessly, covering large swathes of the constituency with his workers getting a 48.5 per cent of the votes. George Fernandes later joined the Janata Dal. He served as Railway Minister in the VP Singh government from 1989 to 1990. He was instrumental in setting up the Konkan Railway project, connecting Mangalore and Bombay. In 1994, George Fernandes formed the Samata Party, which later allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was appointed convenor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and served as the Defence Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government for two terms, between 1998 and 2004. His term was eventful as it witnessed the Kargil War and the Pokhran test.