Himachal Pradesh: Senior Congress leader G S Bali passes away

SHIMLA: Senior Congress leader and former minister G S Bali (67) breathed his last on Saturday at AIIMS-Delhi after prolonged illness.
A pal of gloom has descended in Himachal Pradesh following his demise as Bali was among the tallest leaders of Congress party in the state. He was the biggest face of Congress party in Kangra district and played a key role in the formation of any government in the state.

Gurmukh Singh Bali was born on July 27, 1954 in Kangra.After completing his diploma in mechanical engineering, he joined Congress and served the party in various capacities.
He was convener of Congress Vichar Manch in 1990-97 and Congress Seva Dal chairmain in 1995-98. In 1993-98, he served as the joint secretary of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee.
In 1998, Bali was elected to state assembly for the first time from Nagrota Bagwan assembly constituency of Kangra district and after winning from same constituency in 2003, 2007 and 2012 he emerged as the biggest face of Congress party in Kangra district. He was the minister twice in successive Congress regimes.
Bali had set an example of leadership in his constituency Nagrota Bagwan by nurturing it as a model of development, but in 2017 he faced defeat. Nagrota Bagwan, earlier counted among the backward areas, was converted into fastest developed areas as it has now become a big centre of education in Kangra district.
While in power, Bali opened degree colleges, engineering colleges, pharmacy colleges and many polytechnic colleges to Nagrota Bagwan. As transport minister, Bali converted the loss-making Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) into a profit. He played a key role in building the network of luxury and super luxury buses in HRTC fleet.
Known as firebrand and a bold leader who never hesitated from new experiments, as transport minister he introduced electric buses in HRTC fleet now being run across state.
Information about his demise was shared by his son Raghubir Bali on social media platform. “My father always used to say, whether G S Bali lives in the world or not, he will always be in the hearts of his people,” he said.