4-time Rampur MLA, ex-SPG commando Nand Lal dies at 72 in Shimla

SHIMLA: Former Congress MLA from Rampur Bushahr and Chairman of the Seventh Himachal Pradesh State Finance Commission Nand Lal died at Chamiyana Hospital in Shimla early Tuesday following a prolonged illness. He was 72.Nand Lal, who represented the Rampur Assembly constituency for four consecutive terms between 2007 and 2022, breathed his last around 5 am. His death has triggered an outpouring of grief among political leaders and residents of the region.Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over the veteran leader's demise and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.In a condolence message, the chief minister prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and strength for the family to cope with the loss.The message, shared through a tribute poster, read: "May God grant the departed soul a place at His feet and provide the family with the strength to bear this immense sorrow."Born on April 16, 1954, in Devthi village of Rampur Bushahr in Shimla district, Nand Lal had a career spanning security services and electoral politics. He was the son of Pyare Lal and held a postgraduate degree in Political Science from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla.He began his professional career after receiving training with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), where he served as a commando. In 1985, he joined the Special Protection Group (SPG), the elite security organisation tasked with protecting the Prime Minister and other designated protectees.Nand Lal served with the SPG until 1997 and was assigned several important security responsibilities, including being part of the security detail of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. His association with the Gandhi family earned him the description of "Sonia's sentinel" in media reports.He was also involved in security arrangements for several major national and international events, including the 1982 Asian Games, the 1983 Non-Aligned Movement meeting and the 1984 Commonwealth conference.During his service, he also commanded ITBP battalions twice in terrorism-affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir, working in challenging operational conditions.After several years in the security services, Nand Lal took voluntary retirement in 2007 and entered electoral politics. He contested his first Assembly election from Rampur Bushahr on a Congress ticket and won.He went on to represent the constituency in four consecutive Assembly elections in 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2022. In the 2022 elections, he defeated BJP candidate Kaul Singh Negi to secure his fourth consecutive victory.His political career remained closely linked to the Congress organisation in Himachal Pradesh and development issues concerning Rampur Bushahr and neighbouring areas.Nand Lal served as Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) in the state government from 2013 to 2017. Between 2018 and 2022, he was associated with the Assembly's Welfare and Rural Planning committees. He also served on various legislative committees, including as chairman of the Privileges Committee.In March 2024, the Governor appointed him chairman of the Seventh Himachal Pradesh State Finance Commission.The commission was tasked with examining the financial position of Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies and making recommendations on the distribution of financial resources and strengthening local governance.As chairman, Nand Lal was associated with reviewing the financial requirements of local bodies and their capacity to provide development and civic services.He was married to Satya Devi and is survived by his son.Nand Lal represented Rampur Bushahr in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly for 15 years. His journey from the security services to electoral politics saw him take on responsibilities in national security, legislative affairs and local governance.His four consecutive Assembly victories, tenure as Chief Parliamentary Secretary and appointment as chairman of the State Finance Commission marked significant milestones in his public career.His demise has left a void in the political landscape of Rampur Bushahr, with Congress leaders, political representatives and residents mourning the loss of a veteran leader who remained closely associated with the region throughout his political career.(With Agency Inputs)Stay updated with the latest Shimla news. Download the TOI App.