Bhagat Singh Koshiyari

Bhagat Singh Koshyari (born 17 June 1942) is an Indian politician who served as the 22nd governor of Maharashtra from 2019 to 2023. An RSS veteran, Koshyari served as National Vice-President of BJP and party's 1st State president for Uttarakhand. He also served as 2nd Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal) from 2001 to 2002 and thereafter, was the leader of the opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2003. He also served as an MLC in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council (when Uttarakhand was part of undivided Uttar Pradesh) and MLA in Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. He later served as an MP in Rajya Sabha from 2008 to 2014 from Uttarakhand and then the MP in the 16th Lok Sabha from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar constituency, earning him the distinction of being elected in both houses of State Legislature and both houses of National Parliament respectively. As Governor of Maharashtra, Koshyari tainted his legacy when he ignored rules and swore in Devendra Fadnavis as CM and Ajit Pawar as Deputy CM of Maharashtra without his party's consent. He was on the post for less than 80 hours, becoming Deputy CM with the shortest tenure in Devendra Fadnavis led government. Koshyari then played singular role in the dissolution of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government again in favour of his ideological affiliated party, BJP. This action received a rap from the SC and was termed as Illegal by the Supreme Court of India in their order dated 11 May 2023 Personal and professional life Bhagat Singh Koshyari was born on 17 June 1942 to Gopal Singh Koshyari and Motima Devi at Palanadhura Chetabgarh in Bageshwar district of then United Provinces in British India (present Uttarakhand). Koshyari holds a master's degree in English and studied at Almora College, Almora (then affiliated with Agra University, now S.S.J. Campus Almora of Kumaon University). During this period, Koshyari was also a general secretary of the students' union of Almora College, Almora, between 1961 and 1962. He has also represented the Executive Council of Kumaon University, from 1979 to 1982, 1982 to 1985 and 1988 to 1991.