Congress veteran leader & ex-Union minister Yogendra Makwana dies at 92 after short illness
Makwana enjoyed a lengthy career, serving as a Rajya Sabha Member from 1973 to 1989
Former Union minister and veteran Congress leader Yogendra Makwana has died in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, aged 92, following a short illness, a party spokesman said. He passed away this morning.
Political Career
Mr. Makwana enjoyed a lengthy career, serving as a Rajya Sabha Member from 1973 to 1989. During this time, he was appointed deputy chief whip and secretary of the Congress Parliamentary Party in the Upper House, according to Congress spokesman Hiren Banker.
Between 1980 and 1988, Mr. Makwana was a member of the Union Cabinet, serving under Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. His expansive remit included holding key portfolios such as Home Affairs, Planning, Communications, Steel and Mines, Health, and Agriculture.
Early Life and Education
Born on 23 October 1933, in Sojitra village in Gujarat's Anand district, Mr. Makwana was highly educated, holding degrees in B.A., LL.B., and a Ph.D. His political career commenced as the general secretary of the Kheda District Praja Samajwadi Party before he joined the Congress following an invitation from Indira Gandhi herself.
The Congress party noted that Mr. Makwana remained dedicated to the upliftment of Scheduled Castes and other marginalised communities throughout his life. In 2006, he was appointed Chairman of the Scheduled Caste Department of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), championing numerous welfare schemes—most notably the Social Component Plan—in this capacity.
He also played a pivotal role in addressing the Assam agitation by engaging with the All Assam Students Union and Assam Gana Parishad, leading to their integration into mainstream politics and the rise of Prafulla Mahanta as Chief Minister of Assam.
In a social media post on X, Congress leader Hitendra Pithadiya said: “Throughout his life, Dr. Makwana remained deeply committed to the upliftment of Scheduled Castes and other marginalized communities across India. He represented India at several international forums, including the United Nations, as a Member of Parliament and Union Minister.”
His wife, Shantaben Makwana, was elected to the first Gujarat Legislative Assembly in 1962 and served as a minister in the government of Gujarat, holding the Health and Water Resources portfolios, said Pithadiya.
His daughter, Anuradha Mall, served as an IAS officer and retired as Additional Chief Secretary to the government of Gujarat. His son, Bharat Makwana, was an MLA from Sojitra and contested the Lok Sabha election from Ahmedabad (West) in 2024, Pithadiya added.