Shri Krishan Hooda, 6-time MLA, dies after protracted illness

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 12

Shri Krishan Hooda, Congress MLA from Baroda Assembly segment, passed away at a private hospital in Delhi today after a protracted illness. He was 76.

Born on May 6, 1945, in Khidwali village of Rohtak, the Congress MLA is survived by wife Vidya Devi, two sons and two daughters.

One of the senior-most legislators in Haryana, Hooda was elected to the state Assembly on six occasions, the last four being in a row from 2005.

Hooda started his career from village politics and won his first Assembly election in 1987 from Kiloi on the ticket of the Lok Dal, headed by Devi Lal. In 1996, he won the seat on the Samata Party ticket, but switched over to the Congress before the 2005 elections.

Considered a close confidant of former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda in the Congress, Shri Krishan Hooda won in the 1987, 1996 and 2005 Assembly elections from Kiloi and the next three elections from Baroda in Sonepat.

When the Congress named Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a Lok Sabha member then, as Chief Minister in 2005, Shri Krishan Hooda vacated his seat for his mentor, who had been contesting that seat since then.

Shri Krishan Hooda, in turn, shifted base to Baroda in Sonepat, which he won on three consecutive occasions in 2009, 2014 and 2019. In his last election, Shri Krishan Hooda defeated wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt of the BJP from the Baroda Assembly seat.

In the state Assembly, Shri Krishan Hooda was considered an unassuming legislator and was hardly seen participating in any debate or discussion.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expressed shock and grief over the death of Shri Krishan Hooda and offered his condolences to the bereaved family.

Describing the late Congress MLA as a grassroots leader, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed deepest condolences on his death.

He said the sudden demise of Shri Krishna Hooda was deeply shocking to him and said he was a strong pillar of state politics.

“He was always available for his people, was deeply connected to the masses and was always the voice of farmers and the poor. His honesty and commitment to public service will always be remembered fondly by the people,” the former Chief Minister said.

Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta described him as one of the senior-most legislators of the state and said the Assembly would miss his experience.

State Congress president Kumari Selja, AICC media incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala and Rajya Sabha member Deepender Hooda also expressed their condolences on the Congress MLA’s demise.