Mohsina Kidwai
Indian politician (1932–2026)
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Mohsina Kidwai (1 January 1932 – 8 April 2026) was an Indian politician and parliamentarian. Kidwai was from the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, and was a member of the Indian National Congress. She served as a union minister under Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi holding several important portfolios.[1][2][3]
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Mohsina Kidwai | |
|---|---|
Kidwai in 2017 | |
| Union Minister of Urban Development | |
| In office 22 October 1986 – 2 September 1989 | |
| Prime Minister | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Preceded by | Abdul Ghafoor |
| Succeeded by | Murasoli Maran |
| Union Minister of Transport | |
| In office 24 June 1986 – 22 October 1986 | |
| Prime Minister | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Preceded by | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Succeeded by | Ministry abolished |
| Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare | |
| In office 31 December 1984 – 24 June 1986 | |
| Prime Minister | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Preceded by | B. Shankaranand |
| Succeeded by | P. V. Narasimha Rao |
| Union Minister of Rural Development | |
| In office 2 August 1984 – 31 December 1984 (Minister of State, Independent charge until 31 October 1984) | |
| Preceded by | Harinath Misra |
| Succeeded by | Buta Singh |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 30 June 2004 – 29 June 2016 | |
| Succeeded by | Chhaya Verma |
| Constituency | Chhattisgarh |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha for Meerut | |
| In office 1977–1989 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1932 |
| Died | 8 April 2026 (aged 94) |
| Party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Khalil R. Kidwai |
| Children | Three daughters |
| Website | Official Website, Rajya Sabha |
Kidwai was elected to the 6th Lok Sabha from the Meerut constituency of Uttar Pradesh and retained the seat in the 7th and 8th Lok Sabha. She also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Chhattisgarh[4],[5] between 2004 and 2016.
Career
Kidwai held several ministerial offices in the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India.[5]
She held a variety of leadership positions within the Congress party including General Secretary of AICC. Kidwai was known for her proximity to Congress Party Chief, Sonia Gandhi.[6]
Kidwai was also a member of Congress Working Committee and convenor of Manifesto Implementation Committees of Assam and Punjab.[7]
Personal life and death
Positions held
Kidwai held the following positions during her career:[5]
| Position held | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Member, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council | 1960 | 1974 |
| Minister of State, Food, Civil Supplies, Government of Uttar Pradesh | 1973 | 1974 |
| Member, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly | 1974 | 1977 |
| Cabinet Minister for Harijan, Social Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh | 1974 | 1975 |
| Cabinet Minister for Small Scale Industries, Government of Uttar Pradesh | 1975 | 1977 |
| Member, Sixth Lok Sabha, won bypoll from Azamgarh | 1978 | 1979 |
| Member, Seventh Lok Sabha, from Meerut | 1980 | 1984 |
| Union Minister of State for Labour and Rehabilitation | 11 September 1982 | 29 January 1983 |
| Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare | 29 January 1983 | 2 August 1984 |
| Member, Eighth Lok Sabha | 1984 | 1989 |
| Union Minister of State (Independent charge) | 2 August 1984 | 31 October 1984 |
| Union Cabinet Minister of Rural Development | 4 November 1984 | 31 December 1984 |
| Union Cabinet Minister of Health and Family Welfare | 31 December 1984 | 24 June 1986 |
| Union Cabinet Minister of Transport | 24 June 1986 | 22 October 1986 |
| Union Cabinet Minister of Urban Development | 22 October 1986 | 2 December 1989 |
| Union Cabinet Minister of Tourism (additional charge) | 14 February 1988 | 25 June 1989 |
| Elected to Rajya Sabha | June 2004 | – |
| Member, Court of the Aligarh Muslim University | July 2004 | – |
| Member, Committee on Agriculture | August 2004 | – |
| Member, Anjuman (Court) of Jamia Millia Islamia University | November 2004 | – |
| Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Social Justice, Empowerment | October 2004 | – |
| Member, Parliamentary Forum on Population Public Health | May 2006 | – |
| Member, Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs Public Distribution | July 2006 | – |