PERSONAL INFORMATION
Full name: Bhupesh Kumar Baghel
Nickname: Kaka
Profession: Politician
Date of Birth: 23 August 1961 (Wednesday)
Age (as of 2024): 63 Years
Birthplace: Durg, Madhya Pradesh, India (Now in Chhattisgarh)
Zodiac sign: Virgo
Nationality: Indian
Hometown: Durg, Chhattisgarh
Religion: Hinduism
Caste: Kurmi Kshatriya (OBC)
Marriage Date: 3 February 1982
Age: 63 Years
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EDUCATION
School: Higher Secondary School Marar Patan, Durg (1978)
College/University: • Science College, affiliated with Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur • Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur
Educational Qualification(s): • BSc from Science College (1983) [1] YouTube – UNFILTERED by Samdish • Post-graduate degree in science from Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University (1986) [2] MyNeta
PHYSICAL STATISTICS
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″ (175 cm)
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
Marital Status: Married
Wife/Spouse: Mukteshwari Baghel Note: Wife’s image in parents’ section.
Children: Son – 1 • Chaitanya Baghel (doctor, owns a real estate business) Daughter(s) – 3 • Dipti Baghel (assistant professor) • Smita Baghel • Divya Chandrakar
Parents: Father – Nand Kumar Baghel (passed away on 8 January 2024; farmer, politician) Mother – Bindeshwari Baghel
Siblings: He has two sisters. One of his sisters lives abroad.
Sportsperson: Sunil Gavaskar , Gundappa Viswanath
Wife: Mukteshwari Baghel
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Awards & Honours: • Mahatma Phule Samta Award from the All India Mahatma Phule Samta Parisha (2021) • Honourary doctorate degree by the Sorbonne University for his special initiative to advance Chhattisgarh’s rural economy with limited utilization of local resources (2023) • Honourary doctorate degree by the Hemchand Yadav Vishwavidyalaya (Durg University) (2023)
MONEY FACTOR
Car Collection: Mahindra Alturas G4
Salary/Income (approx.): Salary as an MLA – Rs. 1,60,000 + other allowances (as of January 2024) [11] News18 Income – Rs. 29,67,109 (in the financial year 2022-2023) [12] MyNeta
Assets/Properties: Movable Assets • Cash: Rs. 8,36,325 • Deposits in Banks, Financial Institutions, and Non-Banking Financial Companies: Rs. 56,03,921 • Bonds, Debentures, and Shares in companies: Rs. 2,000 • LIC or other insurance Policies: Rs. 31,056 • Motor Vehicles: Rs. 38,20,286 • Jewellery: Rs. 5,85,000 Immovable Assets • Agricultural Land: Rs. 19,26,32,206 • Residential Buildings: Rs. 93,07,038 Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2023. It excludes the assets owned by his wife. [13] MyNeta
Net Worth (approx.): Rs. 21,12,16,627 Note: The given estimate is according to the year 2023. It excludes the net worth of wife. [14] MyNeta
OTHER INFORMATION
Political Party: Indian National Congress (INC)
Political Journey: • Joined Indian Youth Congress (IYC) (1985) • Became the President of District Youth Congress in Durg (1990-1994) • Elected to Madhya Pradesh Assembly from Patan constituency (1993) • Became a member of the All India Congress Committee • Served as General Secretary and Program Coordinator in the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee • Became Vice-President of Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress (1994-1995) • Re-elected to Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly form Patan (1998) • Appointed Minister the Public Grievance Department (1998) • Became Minister of Transport (1999) • Member of the Estimates Committee of the Aviation Department • Member of the Consultative Committee of the Aviation Department • Appointed chairman of Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (January 2000) • Became the first Minister for Revenue, Public Health Engineering, and relief (2000-2003) • Became a member of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly from the Patan constituency (2003) • Appointed as the deputy leader of opposition (2003-2008) • Contested and lost the Parliamentary Election from the Durg Lok Sabha constituency (2004) • Contested and lost the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha elections from the Patan constituency (2008) • Contested and lost the Parliamentary Election from the Raipur Lok Sabha seat (2009) • Contested and won the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha elections from the Patan constituency (2013) • Became President of Indian National Congress in Chhattisgarh (December 2014 – December 2019) • Contested and won the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha elections from the Patan constituency (2018) • Appointed as the 3rd Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh (2018-2023) • Held the charge of the departments of Finance, Mining, General Administration, Public Relations, and Electronics and Information Technology as CM • Elected to Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly from Patan constituency (2023) • Became Chairman of the State Planning Commission of Chhattisgarh • Lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Rajnandgaon constituency to BJPs Santosh Pandey by 44,411 votes
Notable Schemes As CM: During his time as the CM, Bhupesh became widely popular for introducing numerous successful policies and projects, which were adopted and implemented in several other states. Some of the schemes are- • Narva, Garva, Ghurva, Bari – The initiative sought to boost water conservation, safeguard livestock, promote the utilization of organic compost from household waste, and engage in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables in home gardens for both personal use and earning extra income. • Mukhymantri Haat Bazar Clinic Yojana – With the aim of providing medical care to the poor and the needy, especially the ones living in the tribal areas, the Chhattisgarh government implemented this scheme in 2019. Under the scheme, numerous vans with trained medical personnel were deployed in the markets, where people visited. Owing to successful implementation of this scheme, the World Health Organisation (WHO) produced a documentary on it. • Chief Minister Dai-Didi Clinic Scheme – Under this scheme, the government focused on providing Medicare to the women living in the state. For this, numerous mobile units with a trained all-female medical staff was deployed. The scheme was a success as a result of which many adjoining states adopted the policy. • Malaria Mukt Bastar Scheme – Initiated in 2020 in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, the program sought to perform Malaria tests on residents and offer free medical treatment to those affected. Before its launch, the region had the highest Annual Parasite Incidence (API), but a year later, it achieved the lowest API ranking. • Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana (RGKNY) – Launched in May 2020, this initiative received an allocation of approximately Rs. 5700 crore from the state government, intended for distribution among farmers. The policy’s primary goal was to incentivize farmers to increase production of key crops like paddy, sugarcane, maize, soya bean, pulses, and oilseeds during the Kharif season 2021-22, aiming to reduce the state’s reliance on imported crops. The RGKNY scheme gave rise to various similar programs, including the Godhan Nyay Yojana and the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhumiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana (RGGBKMNY). • Godhan Nyay Yojana – In July 2020, the Chhattisgarh government launched this scheme with the ambition of motivating farmers to adopt organic ways of farming to increase crop production. In the scheme, the government also purchased cow dung and cow urine at Rs. 2 and Rs. 4 per kg respectively. The cow dung was turned into vermicompost, while the cow urine was used to manufacture crop-friendly pest control products and natural liquid fertilizer. To initiate this scheme, the government set up industrial areas in the regions that had high Naxalite activities. This led to generation of employment in such areas, which resulted in the decrease in the recruitment of the people among the Naxal ranks. States such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Odisha implemented this scheme as well. • Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan – In October 2020, the government implemented this scheme with objective to work on eradicating malnutrition and cases of anaemia prevailing especially among females and kids. A similar initiative, called Suposhan Abhiyan, was put into effect in the regions of the state that suffered severely from the Naxalist movement. In it, medical professionals and nutritionists created personalized diet plans based on an individual’s age and gender, while the government supplied affordable food rations to those in need. While giving an interview, Bhupesh talked about it and said, “The campaign was intended to turn Chhattisgarh into a malnutrition and anaemic free – state in three years. We have secured very encouraging results under the scheme blending it with other integrated plans.” • Padhai Tuhar Dwar Scheme – This scheme was drafted to make the study material, including books and other stationary, available for children studying in schools during the COVID-19 lockdown in India. The government set up loudspeakers in various parts of the state to help the children in completing their syllabus. The government also partnered with various NGOs to set up Mohalla Classes throughout the state for providing a platform for teachers to deliver lessons to the kids near their homes. • Swami Atmanand English Medium School Scheme – This scheme is a tribute to the social activist Swami Atmanand. It was implemented in November 2020. The administration established 52 schools in different parts of the state. These schools had infrastructure comparable to that of well-known private schools. The schools were basically set up to provide quality education to the kids belonging to BPL families. Several English medium colleges were set up by the authorities under this scheme with the intent of promoting higher education. • The Ram Van Gaman Path Project – In this project, the Chhattisgarh government allocated Rs. 137.45 crore for a national project that focuses on tracing the route believed to have been taken by Lord Rama as per the Ramayana. • Mukhyamantri Shahri Slum Swasthya Yojana – The scheme was aimed at giving free-of-cost medicare to the citizens of Chhattisgarh living in the slums. It was launched by the government in November 2020. The authorities deployed around 120 mobile medical vans with a professional and trained staff in various parts of the state. • Mahtari Dular Yojana – In May 2021, this scheme was implemented. The ambition of the scheme was to give economical aid to the school-going children who lost their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the scheme, the government decided to credit Rs. 500 per month in the bank accounts of the kids studying classes 1 to 8 and Rs. 1000 in the bank accounts of the students studying in classes 9 to 12. The government also decided that it would bear the cost of educating these kids and would give preference to them during admission in the Swami Atmanand English Medium Schools. • Mor Zameen-Mor Makaan Yojana – Bhupesh Baghel initiated this scheme by combining the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) with 19 other central and state-sponsored schemes. The objective was to offer modular homes to those in need. The Chhattisgarh government received the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Award in 2021 for this scheme.
Address: Mansarovar Awasiya Parisar, Bhilai-3, P.O. Bhilai-3, Tahsil Bhilai-3, District- Durg, Chhattisgarh, India
Hobbies: Reading, Writing, Listening to Music
Other Relatives: Father-in-law – Dr Narendra Dev Verma (famous writer) Nephew – Vijay Baghel (BJP politician, member of the Lok Sabha)
Actor: Amitabh Bachchan
Film: Abhimaan (1973), Chupke Chupke (1975)
Politician: Jayaprakash Narayan
Mobile Game: Candy Crush
INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Bhupesh Baghel’s journey into the realm of agriculture and politics began at a tender age. By the time he completed his fifth grade, his responsibilities on the family farm had already begun, marking the inception of his connection to the land. His academic pursuits continued at the Science College in Durg, where he nurtured a growing interest in politics, joining the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) during his college years. He often reflects on this early political awakening, recalling how he embarked on his political career in the 1980s under the mentorship of the notable leader Chandulal Chandrakar.
In 1983, after graduating, Bhupesh returned to his native village, where he dedicated time to work on his family’s farmland, reflecting his deep-rooted ties to his community. His commitment to social causes gained momentum when he became the patron of the Manva Kurmi Chhatriya Society of Chhattisgarh in 1993, a role that allowed him to advocate for community-oriented initiatives, including the organization of mass wedding ceremonies to alleviate financial burdens on families. His involvement in local governance extended beyond community service; he held several significant positions in Madhya Pradesh, such as a member of the Food and Civil Supplies Corporation and the Housing Board, showcasing his dedication to uplifting the socio-economic conditions in the region.
The dawn of the new millennium saw Bhupesh’s political landscape shift dramatically with the formation of Chhattisgarh in 2000, concluding his term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Madhya Pradesh. As the first Minister of Revenue, Public Health Engineering, and Relief Work for Chhattisgarh, he faced challenges head-on. Despite a setback in the 2008 Legislative Assembly elections when he lost to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Bhupesh’s political career gained traction once more in the 2013 elections, where he secured 68,185 votes. His leadership capabilities were further tested when he took on the presidency of the Chhattisgarh unit of the Indian National Congress (INC) during tumultuous times marked by violence and loss among party rank-and-file. He worked tirelessly to rebuild the party’s image, responding to the crisis with grassroots initiatives and coordination with state and central leaders.
Bhupesh Baghel’s ascension to Chief Minister in 2018 was a pivotal moment, heralding a series of impactful reforms including the cancellation of loans for over two million farmers, a measure that showcased his commitment to agricultural sustainability. He also made significant strides in education, generating 15,000 vacancies for permanent teachers by halting ad-hoc hiring practices. However, his decision not to implement a promised alcohol ban drew scrutiny, a choice he defended by citing the tragic consequences of spurious alcohol consumption amid the COVID-19 lockdown. This complex decision-making process reflects his governance philosophy, prioritizing public health and safety over political promises.
In 2019, Baghel made headlines by sending a mirror to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, challenging him to reflect on his governance. The publication of his biography, “Common Man Bhupesh Baghel,” in 2020 further solidified his narrative in the political landscape. He navigated personal complexities too, including a strained relationship with his father, a former member of the Samajwadi Party, who never supported his political endeavors due to Bhupesh’s affiliation with the INC. By 2021, Chhattisgarh was celebrated as the “Cleanest State” in India, an achievement for which Baghel received national recognition. His continued electoral success was underscored by a decisive victory in the 2023 assembly elections, where he triumphed over his nearest rival by an impressive margin of 19,723 votes. Today, Bhupesh Baghel stands as a prominent figure in Chhattisgarh’s political arena, embodying a blend of agricultural roots and committed public service.
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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.