O. Rajagopal
Encyclopedia
O. Rajagopal is an Indian public figure and former Union Minister who is associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP). Due to the low odds of election in the state of Kerala
, Rajagopal represented Madhya Pradesh
(a state he is not domiciled in) in the Rajya Sabha
from 1992 until 2004
. His early education took place in Kanakkannoor elementary school and Manjapra Upper Primary school and later went to Government Victoria College, Palakkad
.
His Law education was undertaken in Chennai
and after he completed his studies in law, he began practicing law in 1956 at the Palakkad District Court.
and began working in the Jana Sangh shortly after completing his studies. The death of Upadhyaya in 1968 spurred Rajagopal to pursue his public career more deeply. He was the State General Secretary of Jana Sangh until 1974. That same year, he was promoted to the post of President, a post he held until 1977.
In the Emergency period he was jailed with Mr.V.Velankutty Master (Palakkad District President of Jansangh) in Viyyur Central Jail.After the Indian emergency the Jana Sangh merged with the Janata Party
. During this period of time Rajagopal served as the State General Secretary for the Jana Sangh.
(BJP) was formed. Rajagopal then served as its Kerala president until 1985.After 1985 he occupied a number of positions, including the All India Secretary, General Secretary, and the Vice President of BJP. In 1989 he ran for a Lok Sabha
from Manjeri
but failed. Two years later, he attempted to run for the Trivandrum (Lok Sabha constituency)
seat but failed again because BJP candidates are nearly unelectable in Kerala
. His next run took place in the state of Madhya Pradesh
. He was elected in 1992 and 1998 to the Rajya Sabha
. In 1999 he attempted a second run from Thiruvananthapuram
but failed again. In 2006, there were rumors that Rajagopal would contest elections from Palakkad
in the assembly elections for Kerala
.
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
(BJP). Due to the low odds of election in the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Rajagopal represented Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
(a state he is not domiciled in) in the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
from 1992 until 2004
Early life
He was born on September 15, 1929 to Madhavan Nair and O. Konhikkavu Amma of Olanchery veedu at Pudukkad Panchayath in PalakkadPalakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
. His early education took place in Kanakkannoor elementary school and Manjapra Upper Primary school and later went to Government Victoria College, Palakkad
Government Victoria College, Palakkad
Government Victoria College Palakkad is the oldest institution of higher learning in the Malabar region of Kerala. It is affiliated to the Calicut University and provides undergraduate and postgraduate education in Science, Arts and Commerce subjects....
.
His Law education was undertaken in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
and after he completed his studies in law, he began practicing law in 1956 at the Palakkad District Court.
Jana Sangh work
He was inspired by Deendayal UpadhyayaDeendayal Upadhyaya
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya , along with Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, was an important leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, now the Bharatiya Janata Party.-Earlier Life and Education:...
and began working in the Jana Sangh shortly after completing his studies. The death of Upadhyaya in 1968 spurred Rajagopal to pursue his public career more deeply. He was the State General Secretary of Jana Sangh until 1974. That same year, he was promoted to the post of President, a post he held until 1977.
In the Emergency period he was jailed with Mr.V.Velankutty Master (Palakkad District President of Jansangh) in Viyyur Central Jail.After the Indian emergency the Jana Sangh merged with the Janata Party
Janata Party
The Janata Party was an amalgam of Indian political parties opposed to the state of emergency imposed by the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Indian National Congress...
. During this period of time Rajagopal served as the State General Secretary for the Jana Sangh.
BJP work
In 1980, the Janata Party split and the Bharatiya Janata PartyBharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
(BJP) was formed. Rajagopal then served as its Kerala president until 1985.After 1985 he occupied a number of positions, including the All India Secretary, General Secretary, and the Vice President of BJP. In 1989 he ran for a Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
from Manjeri
Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency)
Manjeri was a Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala.Recently Manjeri Constituency changed and now it is a part of Malappuram Loksabha Constituency.-Assembly segments:Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments:...
but failed. Two years later, he attempted to run for the Trivandrum (Lok Sabha constituency)
Trivandrum (Lok Sabha constituency)
-Assembly segments:Trivandrum Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments:#Trivandrum#Kazhakuttom#Vattiyoorkavu#Nemom#Kovalam#Neyyattinkara#Parassala-Members of Parliament:Travancore-Cochin*1951: Annie Mascarene, Independent...
seat but failed again because BJP candidates are nearly unelectable in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. His next run took place in the state of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
. He was elected in 1992 and 1998 to the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
. In 1999 he attempted a second run from Thiruvananthapuram
Trivandrum (Lok Sabha constituency)
-Assembly segments:Trivandrum Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments:#Trivandrum#Kazhakuttom#Vattiyoorkavu#Nemom#Kovalam#Neyyattinkara#Parassala-Members of Parliament:Travancore-Cochin*1951: Annie Mascarene, Independent...
but failed again. In 2006, there were rumors that Rajagopal would contest elections from Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
in the assembly elections for Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.