Jujhar Singh, last member of first assembly, passes away

KOTA: Jujhar Singh, the only surviving MLA of the first Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan and former Congress minister , was laid to rest in Kota on Friday.

Singh, 96, father of former Congress minister Bharat Singh, died on Thursday after prolonged illness. His body was cremated at the electric crematorium in Kishorepura. He was born on January 26, 1920.

People from different sections of society, including BJP MLAs Sandeep Sharma and Shanti Dhariwal, and Congress leader Deependra Singh Shekhawat, attended the last rites. Chief minister Vasundhara Raje was expected to arrive Kota on Friday to pay homage to Jujhar Singh, but her visit was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Bharat Singh said that his father had contested from Khanpur assembly constituency of Jhalawar district at the age of 33. Although he lost to Congress candidate Bhairulal Kala Badal by 2 votes in the election, the court declared him winner after two-and-a-half years following election petition of bogus voting.

Jujhar Singh joined Congress and became member of the first state legislative assembly in 1955, but remained MLA for only half-term. He later won assembly polls on Congress ticket from Ramganjmandi constituency of Kota district in 1962, 1967 and 1972 polls. He remained minister of state for mining, tourism, soldier welfare, cooperative and other departments from 1972 to 1977. However, Jujhar Singh lost assembly polls from Jhalarapatan (Jhalawar) in 1977, but was elected Member of Parliament from Jhalawar in 1984.