Ramchandra Singh Deo
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Ramchandra Singh Deo | |
|---|---|
रामचंद्र सिंह देव कोरिया नरेश | |
| 1st Finance Minister of Chhattisgarh | |
| In office November 2000 – December 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Amar Agrawal |
| Minister of Water Resources, Madhya Pradesh | |
| In office ?–2000 | |
| Member of Legislative Assembly, Undivided Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh | |
| In office 1990–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Dwarika Prasad, BJP |
| Succeeded by | Bhaiyalal Rajwade |
| Constituency | Baikunthpur |
| In office 1967–1977 | |
| Preceded by | Jwala Prasad, PSP |
| Succeeded by | Jwala Prasad, JP |
| Constituency | Baikunthpur |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 13, 1930 |
| Died | July 20, 2018 (aged 88) |
| Party |  Indian National Congress |
| Relations | Ambica Singh Deo (niece) |
| Alma mater | University of Allahabad (M.Sc., Ph.D.) |
| Occupation | Politician, author |
Ramchandra Singh Deo[a] (13 February 1930 – 20 July 2018) also known as Koriya Naresh was an Indian politician, author, and member of the erstwhile royal family of Koriya. As a leader of the Indian National Congress, he held key state-level portfolios in undivided Madhya Pradesh and later became the inaugural Finance Minister of the newly formed state of Chhattisgarh.
Born in Baikuntpur, Koriya State, on 13 February 1930, Ramchandra Singh Deo completed his Master of Science and later obtained a Ph.D. in Life Sciences from the University of Allahabad.[1] Before entering politics, he briefly worked as a photographer for acclaimed filmmaker Satyajit Ray.[2]
Political career
Singh Deo belonged to the Indian National Congress and was elected MLA from Baikunthpur (Koriya) constituency five times between 1967 and 2003.[3] In undivided Madhya Pradesh, he served as Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, known for championing rehabilitation efforts for people displaced by large dam projects.[4]
Following the formation of Chhattisgarh in November 2000, its first Chief Minister Ajit Jogi appointed him as the state's first Finance Minister. He also held portfolios for Planning, Commercial Tax, and implementation of the 20‑point programme.[5]
He retired from electoral politics in 2008, lamenting that campaigning had become dependent on distributing alcohol and cash—practices he refused to engage in.[6]
Authorship and advocacy
Deo authored several books on economic issues and the socio-political challenges in the Bastar region, especially concerning Naxalite activities.[6] He was widely regarded as an expert in irrigation policy and tribal welfare initiatives.[7]
Personal life
He hailed from the royal family of the Koriya State, which acceded to India in 1948. Despite this aristocratic background, Singh Deo led a modest lifestyle and earned a reputation as a politician who prioritized the welfare of locals over partisan interests.[8]
His niece, Ambica Singh Deo is also a politician from Chhattisgarh who won the 2018 Chhattisgarh elections from Baikunthpur as an INC candidate but lost the same seat in 2023.