DHARMENDRA PRADHAN
POLITICIAN
Born into a political environment, politics became his life blood. Since early youth he inherited a strong political acumen inculcating all qualities of a leader. While a higher secondary student he became an A.B.V.P. activist. His organisational and management skills, public interaction and dealing with various crises only egged him on towards various political feats. His public interactions and negotiating skills proved fundamental in his political career. A three times MP and one-time MLA, this renowned leader held important portfolios in the central government.
Son of the great leader and activist, former union Minister Debendra Pradhan, Mr.Dharmendra Pradhan was born in Talcher, a small city in Odisha. The A.B.V.P. wing in Talcher College set the path for his political career. A postgraduate in Anthropology, Mr Pradhan was conferred the Best Legislator Award and the Utkalmani Gopabandhu Pratibha Samman in 2002-03, and the Odisha Citizens’ Award in 2013.
Mr. Pradhan has been the longest serving Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas in the history of Indian politics. As the Union Petroleum Minister, he has been instrumental in architecting several progressive reforms and initiatives, which have been materialized into practice. He is accredited with the success of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana also known as “Ujjwala Man”, which provided LPG connection to over 8 million women from the below poverty line (BPL) category. His strides towards ending energy poverty was highly acclaimed by the International Energy Agency.
His key decisions in the hydrocarbon sector have been phenomenal towards the exploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbons, achieving substantial investments and generating sizable employment.
His dedication to and ardent passion for work set him apart from others. Today he is a popular circulating figure in all political discussions of importance. He is a man dedicated to his ideas. VARINDIA proudly confers upon him the title of a Crown Jewels of Odisha.
