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Kamal Nath
Nath in 2008
Member of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
10 June 2019
Preceded byDeepak Saxena
ConstituencyChhindwara
Leader of Opposition, Madhya Pradesh
In office
17 July 2020 – 28 April 2022
Preceded byGopal Bhargava
Succeeded byGovind Singh
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
10 March 1998 – 17 December 2018
Preceded bySundar Lal Patwa
Succeeded byNakul Nath
ConstituencyChhindwara
In office
18 January 1980 – 15 May 1996
Preceded byGargi Shankar Mishra
Succeeded byAlka Nath
ConstituencyChhindwara
Minister of Commerce and Industry
In office
24 May 2004 – 22 May 2009
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded bySyed Shahnawaz Hussain
Succeeded byAnand Sharma
Minister of State
Minister of Textiles
(Independent Charge)
In office
16 September 1995 – 16 May 1996
Prime MinisterP. V. Narasimha Rao
Preceded byG. Venkat Swamy
Succeeded byG. Venkat Swamy
Minister of State
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(Independent Charge)
In office
26 June 1991 – 16 September 1995
Prime MinisterP. V. Narasimha Rao
Minister of Road Transport and Highways
In office
22 May 2009 – 19 January 2011
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byT.R. Baalu
Succeeded byC. P. Joshi
Minister of Urban Development
In office
19 January 2011 – 28 October 2012
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Succeeded byGirija Vyas
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
In office
28 October 2012 – 26 May 2014
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Succeeded byVenkaiah Naidu
18th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
In office
17 December 2018 – 23 March 2020
Preceded byShivraj Singh Chouhan
Succeeded byShivraj Singh Chouhan
President of Congress, Madhya Pradesh
In office
26 April 2018 – 16 December 2023
Preceded byArun Yadav
Succeeded byJitu Patwari
Personal details
Born (1946-11-18) 18 November 1946 (age 78)
Cawnpore, United Provinces, British India
Political partyIndian National Congress
SpouseAlka Nath
Children2, including Nakul Nath
Residence(s)Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Alma materUniversity of Calcutta (B.Com)
Signature
Source: [2]

Kamal Nath (born 18 November 1946; Hindi pronunciation: [kəməl n̪aːt̪ʰ]) is an Indian politician who served as the 18th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for approximately 15 months and resigned after a political crisis. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly from March 2020 to April 2022.[1][2]

As a leader of the Indian National Congress he has served as the Minister of Urban Development. He is one of the longest serving and most senior members of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament.[3] He was appointed the Pro Tem Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha.[4] He has been elected nine times from the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency of Madhya Pradesh.[5][6] Nath was elected president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee in May 2018, leading the party in the November–December 2018 assembly election.[7] He assumed the office of Chief Minister on 17 December 2018 and resigned on 20 March 2020 due to lack of majority in government.

Early life

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Kamal Nath was born in Kanpur in a business family.[8] His father Mahendra Nath established firms involved with exhibition and distribution of films, publishing, trading power transmission.[9] Kamal is an alumnus of The Doon School.[10] Later, he graduated in Commerce from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata.[11]

Career

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Political career

[edit]
Kamal Nath assumes the charge of the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi on 24 May 2004
US Undersecretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs Alan Larson and Kamal Nath in New Delhi in 2004.

Nath was first elected to the 7th Lok Sabha in 1980.[12] He was re-elected to the 8th Lok Sabha in 1984, the 9th Lok Sabha in 1989, and the 10th Lok Sabha in 1991. He was inducted into the Union Council of Ministers as Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment and Forests in June 1991.[13] From 1995 to 1996 he served as Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Textiles.[14]

Nath was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha in 1998 and the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999. From 2001 to 2004, he was the General Secretary of the Indian National Congress (INC).[15] He was re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in the 2004 elections and served as Union Cabinet Minister of Commerce and Industry from 2004 to 2009.

On 16 May 2009 he again won the elections from his constituency for the 15th Lok Sabha and re-entered the Cabinet, this time as Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways.[6] In 2011, as a result of a cabinet reshuffle, Nath replaced Jaipal Reddy to take on the role of Minister of Urban Development.[16]

In October 2012 Nath was confirmed to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in addition to his current role as Minister of Urban Development.[17]

In late 2012 Nath replaced Pranab Mukherjee to help the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government win a crucial debate on foreign direct investment in India (FDI).[18] Nath also replaced Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh as an ex officio member of the Planning Commission in December 2012.[19]

From 4 to 5 June 2014 Kamal Nath was the only member to have taken the official oath as a member of the newly elected 16th Lok Sabha, and was made the Pro Tem Speaker. The first day of the Lok Sabha, on which the Pro Tem Speaker normally administers the oath to all other elected members, was interrupted by the death of Union Cabinet Minister of Rural Development Gopinath Munde. The House was adjourned after paying tribute to Munde and observing a two-minute silence. Since no other elected member had taken the oath that day, they were not officially members of parliament.[20]

On 13 December 2018, Kamal Nath was elected as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh after the INC emerged as the single largest party with 114 seats. His chief ministership was cut short following the decision of Jyotiraditya Scindia to join the BJP and resign from the INC. Other MLAs loyal to Scindia also resigned from the INC and their MLA posts. This led to the 2020 Madhya Pradesh political crisis which in turn resulted in the resignation of Nath as chief minister on 23 March 2020. Nath's replacement, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was sworn in as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh on 23 March 2020.[21]

On 28 April 2022, Kamal Nath stepped down from his position as Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.[22]

Political associations

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Kamal Nath is a member of the INC (Indian National Congress) political party and served as general secretary from 2001 to 2004.[23]

Nath has close ties with the Nehru–Gandhi family, being young friends and schoolmates with Sanjay Gandhi at the Doon School, an independent boarding school located in Dehradun.[24]

Business career

[edit]

Kamal Nath serves as president of the board of governors for The Institute of Management Technology (IMT) a management institution.[25]

He is Chairman of "Madhya Pradesh Child Development Council" and Patron to the Bharat Yuvak Samaj (Youth Wing of All India Bharat Seva Samaj).[26]

Achievements

[edit]

Kamal Nath, as the Minister of Commerce and Industry, played a pivotal role in the formulation and implementation of India's National Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) during his tenure. This policy aimed to boost India's share in global trade and foster an export-friendly environment through innovative schemes such as the Focus Product Scheme (FPS) and Focus Market Scheme (FMS),[27] introduced in 2006 under the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-2009. These schemes provided exporters with financial benefits like duty credits and helped target specific products and markets with export potential. India merchandise exports increased from $63.84 billion in 2003-2004 to $314.40 billion in 2013-2014.[28]

Political views

[edit]

Economic development

[edit]
Kamal Nath at the World Economic Forum

Nath is a strong proponent of economic development in India. At the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos, Switzerland in 2011 Nath shared his views on improving market access for developing countries in the area of agriculture stating India's applied tariffs for exports in developed countries was very low. Nath claims that this is due to continued imports through schemes like EPCG (Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme) where tariffs are not levied.[29]

Competing in the world market

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Nath disagrees with the Trade protectionist outlook displayed among struggling countries and considers it to be the wrong response to a financial crisis.[30] He has pushed for stronger international co-operation in India, such as expanding on Indo-German relations. Nath stated for a mutually beneficial relationship with Germany to exist it must rely on using both countries' manufacturing strengths. He outlined focus areas of production including telecom, engineering, environmental technology, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food processing, and renewable energy.[31] Kamal Nath describes India's entrepreneurial spirit and the countries' potential for global commerce growth in his book India's Century.[32]

Kamal Nath on infrastructure development

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Nath emphasises the need for infrastructure development in India with projects like the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, a 90-billion-dollar industrial development project. The DMIC proposes major expansion of infrastructure and industry and aims to develop an industrial zone across six states in India.[33] Within the first five years of the project expectations are set at doubling employment potential, tripling industrial output, and quadrupling exports from the region.[34]

Public–private partnership (PPP)

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Kamal Nath advocates a PPP model on completing such ambitious projects like the DMIC and other infrastructure development projects. He references success with PPP models implemented in India's Metro operations.[35]

Positions held

[edit]
Year Description
1980 - 1984 Elected to 7th Lok Sabha
1984 - 1989 Elected to 8th Lok Sabha
1989 - 1991 Elected to 9th Lok Sabha
1991 - 1996 Elected to 10th Lok Sabha
  • Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) (1991-95)
  • Minister of State for Textiles (Independent Charge) (1995-96)
1998 - 1999 Elected to 12th Lok Sabha
  • Member, Standing Committee on Petroleum and Chemicals
  • Member, Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme
  • Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Power
1999 - 2004 Elected to 13th Lok Sabha
  • Member, Standing Committee on Finance (1999-2000)
  • Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Mines and Minerals (2000-04)
2004 - 2009 Elected to 14th Lok Sabha
  • Union Cabinet Minister for Commerce & Industry
2009 - 2014 Elected to 15th Lok Sabha
  • Union Cabinet Minister for Road Transport and Highways (2009-11)
  • Union Cabinet Minister for Urban Development (2011-14)
  • Union Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (2012-14)
2014 - 2018 Elected to 16th Lok Sabha
  • Pro-tem Speaker
  • Member, Standing Committee on Commerce
  • Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs
2019 - 2023 Elected to 15th Madhya Pradesh Assembly

Controversies

[edit]

Rice export accusations

[edit]

In 2007, during Kamal Nath's tenure as Commerce minister, an Empowered Group of Ministers that included Nath, Pranab Mukherjee, and Sharad Pawar helped lift a ban on the export of non-basmati rice. It was alleged that PSUs involved in export of this rice to Africa outsourced the efforts to domestic private companies. It is claimed that the private companies made large profits while the PSUs reported small margins.[36]

He was charge sheeted in the Hawala scandal and denied a ticket by the Congress itself in 1996, wherein he made his wife Alka Nath stand for elections from the Chhindwara (Lok Sabha constituency).[37]

1984 anti-Sikh massacre

[edit]

On 1 November 1984, a day after Indira Gandhi's assassination, an anti-Sikh massacre broke out in Delhi as a result of which at least 2,733 people were killed by mobs. The Nanavati commission, led by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India, investigated the riots some 25 years after they happened but was unable to find surviving evidence. The commission found that the allegations of his involvement lacked sufficient evidence as of 2008–09.[38][39] Nath was not charged and he later stated that he was "fully absolved" by the Nanavati Commission.[40]

2019 Income Tax Raid

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The Income Tax Department, an Indian government agency, conducted inspections at the properties of relatives and aides of CM Kamal Nath in April 2019. The agency claimed detecting about ₹281 crore in unaccounted cash, including ₹20 crore paid to the Congress headquarters in Delhi through hawala. Kailash Vijayvargiya tweeted about the estimation of the detected illegal cash before the Central Board of Direct Taxes' statement on the raids, Kamal Nath's media coordinator Narender Saluja in turn said the raids were orchestrated to malign his party.[41][42][43]

Misogynistic comments

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While addressing a rally during the 2020 Madhya Pradesh By-Election, Nath referred to MP cabinet minister Imarti Devi as 'Item' (colloquially considered as a sexually provocative word/objectification of women).[44] His comments were heavily criticised by several leaders and activists.[45] The Bharatiya Janata Party and the National Commission for Women approached to the Election Commission of India to complain about the derogatory remarks against the Scheduled Caste candidate and demanded to ban him from campaigning during the by-polls.[46][47]

On 30 October 2020, the Election Commission of India revoked the star campaigner status of Kamal Nath citing repeated violation of Model Code of Conduct while campaigning for the elections.[48]

Personal life

[edit]

Kamal Nath was born in 1946 In Kanpur to Mahendra Nath and Lila Nath. He has two sisters, Anita Puri and Rita Jolly.[49] He married Alka Nath on 27 January 1973 and has two sons, Nakul Nath and Bakul Nath.[50][51] The family has owned several successful businesses including real estate, aviation, plantations and hospitality.[52] Alka Nath and Nakul Nath have both been elected to India's parliament.[53][54]

Awards and recognition

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  • In 2006 Kamal Nath received an Honorary Doctorate from Jabalpur's Rani Durgavati University for his contributions to the public sector.[55]
  • Kamal Nath was named the FDI Personality of the Year 2007 by the FDI magazine and the Financial Times Business for his "Active efforts to attract foreign businesses to India, boost exports, and promote trade and investment".[56]
  • In 2008 he was honoured with the title "Business Reformer of the year" by The Economic Times.[57]
  • In November 2012, he received the "ABLF Statesman Award" at the Asian Business Leadership Forum Awards 2012.[58][59]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Choudhury, Sunetra; Prabhu, Sunil (14 December 2018). "Kamal Nath Wins Madhya Pradesh Top Job; Jyotiraditya Scindia On Board". NDTV. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  2. ^ Rawat, Mukesh (20 March 2020). "MP govt crisis: Kamal Nath announces resignation, Congress falls and BJP rejoices". India Today.
  3. ^ "Kamal Nath appointed pro-tem Speaker". The hindu.
  4. ^ Manoj, C. L. (27 April 2018). "PCC chief Kamal Nath obvious Congress face for MP election battle". CL Manoj. The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  5. ^ "To his voters, Kamal Nath has become Chhindwara". Indian Express.
  6. ^ a b Profile at Parliament of India website Archived 17 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Congress Party PCC Presidents - Indian National Congress". Indian National Congress. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Kamal Nath: The man behind Congress' 'kamaal' performance in Madhya Pradesh". 14 December 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Shri Mahendra Nath - Founder Chairman". imt.edu. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Profile of Shri Kamal Nath, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India". Department of Commerce, Government of India. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
  11. ^ "Kamal Nath : Bio, Political life, Family & Top stories". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Biographical Sketch Member of Parliament XII Lok Sabha" Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 12 August 2011.
  13. ^ "MR. KAMAL NATH Commerce & Industry Minister Government of India" Archived 30 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 12 August 2011.
  14. ^ " Fifteenth Lok Sabha Member","WhereInCity India Information", accessed 12 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Kamal Nath Minister of Urban Development" Archived 23 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine,"Chiefly Musing", accessed 12 August 2011.
  16. ^ "Cabinet reshuffle: Jaipal gets Petroleum; Kamal Nath moved to Urban Development", "NDTV", accessed 10 February 2012.
  17. ^ "Cabinet reshuffle: Upgrade for Salman, Rahul boys likely", "The Times of India", accessed 27 November 2012.
  18. ^ Saghal, Priya. "UPA government has finally found a troubleshooter in Kamal Nath to replace Pranab Mukherjee". India Today.
  19. ^ "Nath replaces Ramesh as ex-officio member of Planning Commission". Firstpost. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Kamal Nath sworn in as the pro tem speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha". India Today. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  21. ^ "Back 22 rebel Cong MLAs, whose resignation led to fall of Kamal Nath govt, join BJP". Mint. PTI. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  22. ^ Sharma, Hemender (28 April 2022). "Congress leader Kamal Nath resigns as Leader of Opposition in MP". India Today. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  23. ^ "Detailed Profile: Shri Kamal Nath","India.gov.in", accessed 10 February 2012.
  24. ^ "Kamal Nath, the Gandhi buddy" Archived 5 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine"Hindustan Times", accessed 10 February 2012.
  25. ^ "business school in India | PGDM EPGDM |IMT Hyderabad". www.imthyderabad.edu.in. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  26. ^ http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in "Biographical Sketch Member of Parliament 13th Lok Sabha", accessed 12 August 2011.
  27. ^ "Kamal Nath is delivering on FTP promises". Business Standard. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  28. ^ "Export figures for FY04, FY14, and FY24 show interesting trends". Business Standard. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  29. ^ "India Everywhere" "Rural Infrastructure, Employment, FDI key to 8% growth 'Dream Team' addresses foreign investors" Archived 18 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine, 28 January 2006, accessed 9 September 2011.
  30. ^ "Agence France Presse (AFP)" "Davos participants warn protectionism could stifle economic recovery", "The Daily Star" 2 February 2009, accessed 9 September 2011.
  31. ^ "Alibaba.com" "Kamal Nath For Big Push To Economic Dimension of Indo-German Relations..", "Alibaba.com" 10 August 2010, accessed 9 September 2011
  32. ^ "Indialink Online: Kamal Nath" "Kamal Nath – 'India's Century' Launched in London" Archived 30 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine, "India Link International" accessed 9 September 2011.
  33. ^ "TopNews.in" "Kamal Nath says, infrastructure development critical for inclusive growth", "TopNews.in" 23 January 2008, accessed 9 September 2011.
  34. ^ "Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion Ministry of Commerce & Industry""Delhi – Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Project" Archived 31 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, "Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion Ministry of Commerce & Industry" accessed 9 September 2011.
  35. ^ "Zeenews.india.com""Kamal Nath advocates PPP model for infrastructure development", "Zeenews.india.com" 21 February 2011, accessed 9 September 2011.
  36. ^ Sahgal, Priya. "Ministers at War: Rice boils over". India Today.
  37. ^ Chhindwara (Lok Sabha constituency)1996, Alka Nath[1] India Today
  38. ^ Mitta, Manoj; Phoolka, H. S. (8 April 2010). "The Case Against Kamal Nath". Outlook. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  39. ^ Goyal, Divya (14 January 2018). "1984 anti-Sikh riots: Enough evidence against Kamal Nath, can't evade law now, says HS Phoolka". The Indian Express. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  40. ^ "Nanavati Commission has 'absolved me' in 1984 riots: Kamal Nath". 13 June 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  41. ^ "I-T claims Rs 281-crore racket after Kamal Nath kin raids, BJP has advance estimate". The Indian Express. 9 April 2019.
  42. ^ "I-T Sleuths Quiz Kamal Nath's Aide, Wife for 7 Hours Even as Cong-BJP Slug it Out Over CRPF-Cops Tussle". News18.
  43. ^ "I-T raids continue on day 3 to unearth Rs 281 crore racket of unaccounted cash, pressure mounts on Kamal Nath". Zee News. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  44. ^ Mehta, Kriti (18 October 2020). "Kamal Nath refers to BJP leader Imarti Devi as 'item', BJP files complaint with Election Commission for remark". Times Now. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  45. ^ "Former MP CM Kamal Nath calls Imarti Devi 'item'; BJP hits back 'feudal' mindset". IndiaTV News. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  46. ^ Sharma, Rajendra (18 October 2020). "Kamal Nath terms minister Imarti Devi an 'item', BJP fumes". The Times Of India. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  47. ^ "MP Bypoll: Chouhan to Hold 'Silent Protest' Against Kamal Nath's 'Item' Remark on Imarti Devi". News18. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  48. ^ "EC revokes Kamal Nath's star campaigner status". The Times Of India. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  49. ^ "Commerce Minister Kamal Nath's mother passes away". Hindustan Times. IANS. 21 February 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  50. ^ "Biographical Sketch Member of Parliament 11th Lok Sabha". Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  51. ^ "AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam: ED indicts Kamal Nath's sons and nephew Ratul Puri". Times Now. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  52. ^ Malik, Aman (14 April 2014). "The business interests of Kamal Nath". Mint. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  53. ^ Gupta, Suchandana (16 March 2019). "Lok Sabha elections: Alka Nath to lead campaign for son". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  54. ^ "Nakul Nath wins Chhindwara LS seat; BJP bags Dhar, Vidisha". The Times of India. PTI. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  55. ^ "Kamal Nath, Indian minister for commerce and industry", The New York Times, 26 October 2008, accessed 12 August 2011.
  56. ^ "fDi Personality of the Year 2007 awards event at New Delhi 31st August 2007." Archived 10 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Indiaprwire.com, 25 August 2007.
  57. ^ "Business Reformer of the year 2008", The Economic Times Awards, accessed 12 August 2011.
  58. ^ "Kamal Nath, Anand Mahindra honoured with Asian business awards". The Indian Express. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  59. ^ "Winners of the Asian Business Leadership Forum Awards 2012". Asian Business Leadership Forum Awards. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kamal Nath.
Lok Sabha
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Chhindwara
1980 – 1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Chhindwara
1998 – 2019 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry
23 May 2004 – 22 May 2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways
22 May 2009 – 18 January 2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Union Minister of Urban Development
19 January 2011 – 25 May 2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
17 December 2018 – present 		Incumbent
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