Rattan Lal Kataria, a respected leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and three-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Ambala, passed away after a brief illness at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. Known for his down-to-earth demeanor, Kataria was admired for his resilience and his ability to overcome poverty since childhood.
Born on December 19, 1951, to cobbler Jyoti Ram, Kataria took immense pride in his humble background and truly embodied the essence of being a “rattan” or jewel. Even after becoming an MP, he would occasionally repair footwear in his native town of Ladwa, showcasing his humble nature. Unfortunately, Kataria’s life journey came to an end at 3:30 am on Thursday, surrounded by loved ones and well-wishers, including Biplab Kumar Deb, the former Chief Minister of Tripura and BJP’s Haryana in-charge.
Hailing from Sandhali village in the Yamunanagar district, Kataria joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at a young age and remained an active pracharak for an impressive five decades.
Kataria’s remarkable success in politics was attributed to his visionary mindset, infectious smile, and unwavering determination. Despite belonging to a humble family, he not only excelled academically but also pursued higher studies, earning a post-graduation degree in political science and LLB from Kurukshetra University. His educational qualifications stand as a testament to his intelligence and practical approach. Besides his political pursuits, Kataria was also known for his poetic skills and his love for singing patriotic songs.
In 1985, Kataria was elected as the Radaur MLA and subsequently became the state revenue minister. In 1999, he secured a resounding victory in the Lok Sabha election from Ambala (reserved) with a remarkable margin of 1.24 lakh votes. He also served as the Haryana BJP chief from 2000 to 2003. Although he faced a setback in the 2009 elections, losing to Kumari Selja of the Congress, he made an impressive comeback in the 2014 general elections, winning by an overwhelming margin of 3.4 lakh votes. Kataria was re-elected from Ambala in 2019 and went on to become a Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Social Justice and Empowerment.
Kataria’s cheerful and amiable nature endeared him not only to leaders within his party but also across the political spectrum. In a heartfelt condolence message, Haryana BJP President OP Dhankar tweeted, “Shri Rattan Lal Kataria made us laugh and cry at the same time. His cheerful nature was an integral part of his personality. He was service-oriented, humble, and friendly, and his house felt like the BJP’s home. I had the privilege of working with him for decades. His demise is an irreparable loss for the country, state, party, and personally for me.”
Rattan Lal Kataria’s inspiring journey from adversity to political success, along with his dedication, amiable nature, and deep-rooted values, made him a revered leader in Haryana and within the BJP. His passing is mourned as a significant loss for the party, the state, and the nation as a whole.
Rattan Lal Kataria: The Unassuming BJP Leader Who Transformed Adversity into Opportunity
Rattan Lal Kataria, a respected leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and three-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Ambala, passed away after a brief illness at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. Known for his down-to-earth demeanor, Kataria was admired for his resilience and his ability to overcome poverty since childhood.
Born on December 19, 1951, to cobbler Jyoti Ram, Kataria took immense pride in his humble background and truly embodied the essence of being a “rattan” or jewel. Even after becoming an MP, he would occasionally repair footwear in his native town of Ladwa, showcasing his humble nature. Unfortunately, Kataria’s life journey came to an end at 3:30 am on Thursday, surrounded by loved ones and well-wishers, including Biplab Kumar Deb, the former Chief Minister of Tripura and BJP’s Haryana in-charge.
Hailing from Sandhali village in the Yamunanagar district, Kataria joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at a young age and remained an active pracharak for an impressive five decades.
Kataria’s remarkable success in politics was attributed to his visionary mindset, infectious smile, and unwavering determination. Despite belonging to a humble family, he not only excelled academically but also pursued higher studies, earning a post-graduation degree in political science and LLB from Kurukshetra University. His educational qualifications stand as a testament to his intelligence and practical approach. Besides his political pursuits, Kataria was also known for his poetic skills and his love for singing patriotic songs.
In 1985, Kataria was elected as the Radaur MLA and subsequently became the state revenue minister. In 1999, he secured a resounding victory in the Lok Sabha election from Ambala (reserved) with a remarkable margin of 1.24 lakh votes. He also served as the Haryana BJP chief from 2000 to 2003. Although he faced a setback in the 2009 elections, losing to Kumari Selja of the Congress, he made an impressive comeback in the 2014 general elections, winning by an overwhelming margin of 3.4 lakh votes. Kataria was re-elected from Ambala in 2019 and went on to become a Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Social Justice and Empowerment.
Kataria’s cheerful and amiable nature endeared him not only to leaders within his party but also across the political spectrum. In a heartfelt condolence message, Haryana BJP President OP Dhankar tweeted, “Shri Rattan Lal Kataria made us laugh and cry at the same time. His cheerful nature was an integral part of his personality. He was service-oriented, humble, and friendly, and his house felt like the BJP’s home. I had the privilege of working with him for decades. His demise is an irreparable loss for the country, state, party, and personally for me.”
Rattan Lal Kataria’s inspiring journey from adversity to political success, along with his dedication, amiable nature, and deep-rooted values, made him a revered leader in Haryana and within the BJP. His passing is mourned as a significant loss for the party, the state, and the nation as a whole.
