Phunchog Rai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lari village, Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Indian National CongressPhunchog Rai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Health and Family Planning, Government of Himachal Pradesh (1993-98) Minister of Tribal Affairs, Government of Himachal Pradesh (1993-98) MLA from Lahaul and Spiti assembly constituency (1990-92) | |
| Constituency | Lahaul and Spiti |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 February 1944 Lari village, Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Alma mater | Punjab University |
| Occupation | Politician |
Phunchog Rai (born 19 February 1944; also spelled as 'Phuntsok Rai') is a politician from Himachal Pradesh, India, and a member of the Indian National Congress Party.
Rai hails from village Lari in the Spiti valley.[1][2] He matriculated from the Government High School in Manali in 1965, and did graduation from Punjab University at Chandigarh.[1] The former IAS officer Deepak Sanan mentions Rai's father, Dorje Chhering, as an authority on the routes, water sources, and lifestyle of Spiti.[3]
Political career
Rai served as an elected representative in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Lahaul and Spiti assembly constituency from 1990 to 1998. In 1990, he was elected as an MLA, during the second tenure of Shanta Kumar as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh (1990-1992).
Rai was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1993, this time under the second tenure of Virbhadra Singh as Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh (1993-1998). In this period, he served as a cabinet minister.[4] As minister, Rai held two portfolios, those of Tribal Affairs and Health and Family Planning.[5][6]
In the 11th Legislative Assembly Elections of Himachal Pradesh held in 2007, Rai lost against Dr. Ram Lal Markanda for the Lahaul and Spiti seat.[7]
