Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Bihar Congress Seeks Bharat Ratna for Bhola Paswan Shastri
Bihar Congress wants Bhola Paswan Shastri to receive the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.
Congress described him as Bihar’s first Dalit chief minister.
He served as chief minister three times.
He also worked as a Union minister and led the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
During his last term as chief minister, the Mungeri Lal Commission was created.
The commission later recommended quotas for numerically strong backward classes.
Its report was submitted in 1977 during Karpoori Thakur’s tenure as chief minister.
Congress plans to celebrate Shastri’s birth anniversary in Patna with thousands of delegates.
Bihar Congress demanded the Bharat Ratna for Bhola Paswan Shastri, described as the state’s first Dalit chief minister.
The demand was made by Ravindra Paswan, chairman of the Bihar Congress Scheduled Castes cell.
Supporters highlighted Shastri’s three terms as chief minister, Union ministry, and Rajya Sabha opposition leadership.
The Mungeri Lal Commission was established during Shastri’s final tenure in 1971-72 and later recommended quotas for backward classes.
Congress will mark Shastri’s birth anniversary at Sadaqat Ashram with Rajendra Pal Gautam and about 5,000 delegates.
- Who
- Bihar Congress, led in this effort by Scheduled Castes cell chairman Ravindra Paswan, is seeking recognition for Bhola Paswan Shastri.
- What
- The party has demanded the Bharat Ratna for Bhola Paswan Shastri.
- When
- The demand was reported on September 20; Shastri’s birth anniversary celebrations were scheduled for the following Monday.
- Where
- The demand was announced in Patna, and the birth anniversary event is planned at Sadaqat Ashram, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters.
- Why
- Congress cited Shastri’s three terms as chief minister, national political roles, and the establishment of the Mungeri Lal Commission during his final tenure.
- Honour sought
- Bharat Ratna
- Honouree
- Bhola Paswan Shastri
- Chief-ministerial service
- Three terms
- Commission established
- Mungeri Lal Commission, during Shastri’s 1971-72 final tenure
- Commission report
- Submitted in 1977
- Celebration venue
- Sadaqat Ashram, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters
- Expected attendance
- Around 5,000 delegates from across Bihar