- By Vivek Raj
- Thu, 19 Oct 2023 06:06 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Late Motilal Vora, has a compelling journey from his days as a journalist to the pinnacle of political leadership. In the 1960s, he, as a journalist, pedaled through Raipur (now Chhattisgarh's capital) on a rented bicycle in search of news. Vora's early career wasn't solely in journalism; he also worked in the petrol distribution and transport sectors in Durg and Rajnandgaon. However, his foray into politics changed the course of his life.
The turning point of Vora's life story was in 1985 when the Congress party, under the leadership of Arjun Singh, secured a resounding victory in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. At that time, Motilal Vora served as the State Congress President. However, what followed was an unforeseeable twist in the political landscape.
On March 9, 1985, Arjun Singh took his oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for the second time. Little did he know that his tenure was about to end abruptly. The very next day, he was informed by then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that he was being appointed as the Governor of Punjab.
This decision allowed Arjun Singh to nominate Motilal Vora as his successor. Motilal Vora was called to Delhi to take on the role, though he initially believed he was being considered for a cabinet minister position. Rajiv Gandhi was about to go on a trip to Russia and before that, he called Vora and said - 'Now you are the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.'
With Vora as Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh assumed the position of State Congress President. Although this turn of events aligned with Arjun Singh's wishes in many aspects, it deviated from his desire to remain Chief Minister.
Motilal Vora, born on December 20, 1928, in Nimbi Jodha, Rajasthan, had initially come to Madhya Pradesh with his parents, Mohanlal Vora and Amba Bai Vora. He took his early education in Raipur and Kolkata, following which he embarked on a career in journalism.
Starting with a government bus ride from Durg to Raipur, he rented a bicycle from Jaistambh Chowk's old bus stand in Raipur to chase news stories. Simultaneously, his involvement in politics grew, and he joined the Praja Samajwadi Party.
In 1968, Vora won the Durg Municipality elections as a councillor, marking the start of his political career. In 1972, he switched to Congress and became an MLA by winning the assembly elections. His political journey continued with both ups and downs, leading to his eventual appointment as Chief Minister.
In 1988, Arjun Singh returned as the Chief Minister, while Motilal Vora was sent to Delhi as a Rajya Sabha member. Nevertheless, his fortunes took another turn when Arjun Singh became embroiled in the Churhat lottery scandal, leading to the Congress high command demanding his resignation.
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The quest for a Chief Minister continued, and this time, Motilal Vora was recommended by Arjun Singh and the high command as a compromise candidate to settle the "King vs Maharaja" debate. Vora took the oath as Chief Minister on January 25, 1989, and during his tenure, he managed to maintain a sense of unity within the party.
He was later appointed as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh on May 26, 1993, and held the office till May 3, 1996.
Motilal Vora's journey from a journalist on a rented bicycle to the Chief Minister's chair is a testament to the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of Indian politics, where unexpected twists and turns can lead to extraordinary achievements.