Abdul Ghafoor (Saharsa politician)
| Abdul Ghafoor | |
|---|---|
 At an election rally 2015 | |
| Minister of Minority Welfare, Bihar | |
|
Assumed office 20th November 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Naushad Alam |
| Succeeded by | - |
| Member of Legislative Assembly from Mahishi (JD (1995-1997) and RJD (1997-2005). | |
|
In office 1995–2005 | |
| Preceded by | Anand Mohan (JD) |
| Succeeded by | Gunjeshwar Sah (JD(U)) |
| Member of Legislative Assembly from Mahishi (Rashtriya Janata Dal) | |
|
Assumed office 2010 - 2015 and 2015 - till date | |
| Preceded by | Gunjeshwar Sah (JD(U)) |
| Succeeded by | - |
| Chairman Of Bihar State Haj Committee | |
|
In office Aug 2003 – 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Shakil Ahmad Khan |
| Succeeded by | Jamshed Ali |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
5 May 1959 Saharsa, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Rashtriya Janata Dal |
| Residence | Patna, India |
| Alma mater | Patna University |
| Profession | Social Service, Statesman and Educationist |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| As of 20th November, 2015 | |
Abdul Ghafoor: (Urdu: عبد الغفور; born 5 May 1959) is the Minister of Minority Welfare in Nitish Kumar government in the Indian state of Bihar, he is a current member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly representing the Mahishi vidhan sabha for the fourth time (he has been elected in 1995,2000,2010 and in 2015).[1] His political party is Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD).[2]
Early life and education
Dr. Abdul Ghafoor was born to a farmer Md. Jamal and Bibi Fatima on 5 May 1959 in a small village of Bhelahi in Saharsa district of Bihar. He finished his early education (Matriculation) from Islamia High School, Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Saharsa in 1974. He completed his higher Secondary in 1976. He graduated (B.A) from Saharsa College, Saharsa in 1979. Later on moved to Patna to pursue Masters in Arts (M.A) from Patna University in 1981. He holds a PhD degree in Urdu from Patna University. [3]
He joined Parvati Science College in 1982 as a professor of Urdu.
Political objective
Inspired by the leadership and ideologies of Prameshwar Kunwar he was inclined towards politics from his early youth. His inspiration deepened after the famous JP movement. Being associated with the village, he has always been involved at the main issues and personally felt the basic needs of the poor people and the minority community. He always believed that they should be given an equal chance to grow, live and prosper at par with the other privileged people. He continuously strives for the upliftment of the backward and underprivileged section of the society. He has always been seen as one of the cleanest politicians of the state. Secularism and Socialism are the two pillars of his politics.
Political career
He first contested on a Janata dal ticket from Mahishi Vidhan sabha and defeated the veteran congress leader and freedom fighter Lahtan Choudhary of Congress in 1995. In 1998 when the Janata Dal split due to the differences between Sharad Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav to form Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal (United), he chose to be loyal to Lalu Prasad Yadav and joined RJD. He worked hard towards his aim and the development of the society and that was the reason he was chosen by the people for the second time and won convincingly in 2000 from an RJD ticket by a huge margin of approximately 20,000 votes defeating Surendra Yadav, an independent candidate. In the debacle and toppling of Lalu Yadav in 2005 election, he lost from Mahishi to Surendra Yadav marginally. The assembly could not be formed due to unclear mandate hence state was forced into fresh election. In the re-election he was asked to shift his constituency to Saharsa Vidhan Sabha Constituency. Accepting the party decision he contested from Saharsa in Oct 2005 election but again had a hard luck with BJP's Sanjiv Jha and lost by approximately 6000 votes.
He worked hard and connected to the masses in the villages of his native assembly Mahishi and was reluctant to bounce back into the Bihar politics. His dedication and non tiring effort was rewarded and was given back his home constituency of Mahishi in 2010 elections. Though Lalu Yadav's RJD was very badly defeated, he came victorious as the lone RJD candidate from the Koshi region defeating RajKumar sah of JD(U)by a margin of 1717 votes establishing and proving himself as one of the most powerful and efficient Muslim leader of the state.
Election 2015
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At an election Rally with Nitish Kumar in 2015
Assumed to be a direct fight between the Grand alliance of RJD, JD(U) and INC, Vs NDA. RJD contested election on 101 Seats, JDU on 101, Congress on 41. Dr. Abdul Ghafoor once again contesting from the Mahishi seat defeated the nearest rival Chandan Kumar Sah by a comprehensive margin on 26,135 votes. This Victory would make Dr. Ghafoor the longest serving MLA from Mahishi. Grand Alliance got a Landslide victory by claiming 178 out of 243 seats while BJP+ managed a mere58 seats.
Dr. Abdul Ghafoor has been sworn in as the Minority Welfare minister[4]> in the Nitish Kumar government on 20 November 2015.[5]
Others
He was also the chairman of Bihar State haj Committee and held the post between 2003 and 2006.
He is active on social media and is easily reachable by public via Twitter - https://twitter.com/DrAGhafoor and on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DrAGhafoor email: mlamahishi@gmail.com
Details of election affidavit can be found here