Phagu Chauhan (born 1 January 1948) is an Indian politician serving as the 20th Governor of Meghalaya. He previously served as the 29th Governor of Bihar. He is a former member of 17th Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh from Ghosi, a seat he won a record six times, representing various parties like Lok Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party and Bharatiya Janata Party.[1][2][3]

Phagu Chauhan
20th Governor of Meghalaya
In office
12 February 2023 – 30 July 2024
Chief MinisterConrad Sangma
Preceded byB. D. Mishra
(additional charge)
Succeeded byC. H. Vijayashankar
28th Governor of Bihar
In office
29 July 2019 - 12 February 2023
Chief MinisterNitish Kumar
Preceded byLalji Tandon
Succeeded byRajendra Arlekar
Member of Legislative Assembly for
Ghosi
In office
March 2017 – July 2019
Preceded byShudhakar Singh
In office
October 1996 – March 2012
Preceded byAchaibar Bharti
Succeeded byShudhakar Singh
In office
June 1991 – December 1992
Preceded bySubhash
Succeeded byAchaibar Bharti
In office
March 1985 – November 1989
Preceded byKedar
Succeeded bySubhash
ConstituencyGhosi, Mau
Personal details
Born (1948-01-01) 1 January 1948 (age 76)
Sekhupur, United Provinces, India
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
Other political
affiliations
National Democratic Alliance
SpouseMuhari Devi
Children7
Residence(s)Sekhupur, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh
Vijayant Khand, Gomtinagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
EducationGraduate
Profession
  • Politician
  • agriculturist

Personal life

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Chauhan was born on 1 January 1948 in the village of Sekhupur in Azamgarh district of present-day Uttar Pradesh to Kharpattu Chauhan. He is a graduate. Chauhan is married to Muhari Devi, with whom he has three sons and four daughters.[4][5]

Political career

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Chauhan started his political career in 1985 from the political party Dalit Mazdoor Kisan Party and became first time MLA in his political career. After that he contested many Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) elections from different parties and won maximum number of times. In 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election he contested as Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Ghosi and defeated his close contestant Abbas Ansari from Bahujan Samaj Party with a margin of 7,003 votes.

In July 2019, Chauhan was appointed the 29th Governor of Bihar.[6]

During his tenure as Governor of Bihar and also ex-officio Chancellor of State Universities, many universities got tangled into multiple scams which came into light after Bihar Government's Special Vigilance Unit raids. One of which Magadh University's case was most peculiar as Vice Chancellor Rajendra Prasad was booked under Section 420 of IPC for ₹30 Crore fraud. His homes were raided which was first for a VC of university.[7] Chauhan as Chancellor of the university didn't sack the VC who also hails from UP as does Chauhan which fueled some speculations. The VC went on medical leave and thus leaving the position de facto vacant. He said the vigilance raids were not good for the university as it created environment of fear.[8] VC, Exam Controller along with other staff were brought from other Universities and given additional charge. Due to all this Magadh University's academic session suffered longest delays in recent times as multiple exams are pending.[9] Multiple protests erupted over these issues in which effigies of the Governor were burnt which in itself is new as Governor is a respected constitutional position.[10] Students of this university expressed their frustration to Governor Chauhan over delayed session and exams not being conducted and demanded permanent Vice Chancellor and staff or his resignation.[11]

Posts held

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# From To Position Party Ref
01 July 2019 February 2023 Governor of Bihar [12][13]
02 March 2017 July 2019 Member, 17th Legislative Assembly BJP [14]
03 May 2007 March 2012 Member, 15th Legislative Assembly BSP [15]
04 February 2002 May 2007 Member, 14th Legislative Assembly BJP [16]
05 October 1996 March 2002 Member, 13th Legislative Assembly BJP [17]
06 June 1991 December 1992 Member, 11th Legislative Assembly JD [18]
07 March 1985 November 1989 Member, 9th Legislative Assembly DMKP [19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Election Commission Of India General Election To Vidhan Sabha Trends & Result 2017". eciresults.nic.in. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Myneta, Election Watch".
  3. ^ "Ghosi - Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election Results 2017".
  4. ^ "Member Profile". official website of Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  5. ^ Mishra, Dipak (30 August 2019). "Bihar governor attends BJP-backed 'caste meeting', Sushil Modi says it's for social harmony". ThePrint. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Senior BJP Leader Phagu Chauhan Appointed Governor of Bihar, to Take Over From Lal Ji Tandon". News18. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  7. ^ Karmakar, Debashish (18 November 2021). "Bihar's Magadh University vice-chancellor booked for Rs 30 crore fraud". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  8. ^ Kumar, Arun (27 January 2022). "Bihar Governor slams vigilance probe in state varsities, says creating 'fear on campuses'". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  9. ^ Mishra, B K (18 April 2022). "Lack Of Regular Officials Hits Functioning In 6 Varsities". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  10. ^ मविवि के अनियमित शैक्षणिक सत्र के विरोध में फूंका गवर्नर का पुतला. Dainik Bhaskar. 8 April 2022. p. 1.
  11. ^ टायर जलाकर एनएच-83 को किया जाम: विवि के गेट पर बैठकर विवि प्रशासन के खिलाफ छात्रों ने की नारेबाजी; रोड जाम कर प्रदर्शन. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 19 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  12. ^ PTI (29 July 2019). "Phagu Chauhan sworn in as Bihar Governor". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  13. ^ Digital Bihar desk (20 July 2019). "फागू चौहान होंगे बिहार के नये राज्यपाल, राष्ट्रपति ने जारी की अधिसूचना, ...जानें कौन हैं?". Prabhat Khabar (in Hindi). Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Uttar Pradesh 2017 Result" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  15. ^ "2007 Election Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  16. ^ "2002 Election Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  17. ^ "1996 Election Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  18. ^ "1991 Election Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  19. ^ "1985 Election Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Bihar
29 July 2019 - 13 February 2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by
B. D. Mishra
Additional Charge
Governor of Meghalaya
13 February 2023 - Present
Incumbent