Charanjit Singh Channi became the first Dalit chief minister of Punjab on Monday a day after the ruling Congress nominated him for the post. A member of the Ramdasia community, he is among a handful of Dalits who have served as chief ministers:
Damodaram Sanjivayya (Andhra Pradesh) was the first Dalit to become a chief minister. He held the post from January 1960 to March 1962. In 1962, Sanjivayya went on to become the first Dalit chief of the Congress.
— Bhola Paswan Shastri, a freedom fighter, served as Bihar’s chief minister from 1968 to 1971. He was also the first Dalit to be elected as the state’s top official.
– Ram Sundar Das, another freedom fighter, became the second Dalit chief minister of Bihar in 1979.
— Mayawati, the Bahujan Samaj Party chief, a Dalit, has served as Uttar Pradesh chief minister four times. She is also the lone woman member of the community to have held the post.
— Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde, a Dalit, has served as the Maharashtra chief minister as well as a Union minister.
— Jitan Ram Manjhi served as Bihar’s third Dalit chief minister from May 2014 to February 2015.
— Jagannath Pahadia served as Rajasthan chief minister from June 1980 to July 1981. He was the first Dalit to hold the post in the state. A Congress leader, Pahadia also served as the governor of Haryana and Bihar.
Damodaram Sanjivayya (Andhra Pradesh) was the first Dalit to become a chief minister. He held the post from January 1960 to March 1962. In 1962, Sanjivayya went on to become the first Dalit chief of the Congress.
— Bhola Paswan Shastri, a freedom fighter, served as Bihar’s chief minister from 1968 to 1971. He was also the first Dalit to be elected as the state’s top official.
Ram Sundar Das, another freedom fighter, became the second Dalit chief minister of Bihar in 1979.
— Mayawati, the Bahujan Samaj Party chief, a Dalit, has served as Uttar Pradesh chief minister four times. She is also the lone woman member of the community to have held the post.
– Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde, a Dalit, has served as the Maharashtra chief minister as well as a Union minister.
— Jitan Ram Manjhi served as Bihar’s third Dalit chief minister from May 2014 to February 2015.
— Jagannath Pahadia served as Rajasthan chief minister from June 1980 to July 1981. He was the first Dalit to hold the post in the state. A Congress leader, Pahadia also served as the governor of Haryana and Bihar.
