Tilak Raj Behad

Who is Tilak Raj Behad?

Tilak Raj Behad is an Indian politician. He is presently an elected member and Deputy Leader of Opposition of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly [10] and represents the Rudrapur-Kiccha constituency in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. He was previously Health Minister in Government of Uttarakhand.

He has been elected to the Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand 4 times consecutively - having won from Haldwani-Nainital Assembly Constituency in Uttar Pradesh in 1993 and 1996 and from Rudrapur-Kichha Assemlby Constituency in Uttarakhand in 2002 [1] and 2007 [2].

Behad is a member of the Indian National Congress. He started his political career with Bharatiya Janta Party. He quit BJP and joined INC in 2002. This resulted in considerable weakening of BJP in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand [3]. He has served the people of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh by serving in various capacities - some of them being Chairman of Mandi Parishad of Uttarakhand, Minister of Transport, Food and Civil Supplies, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of Uttarakhand.

Behad shot to prominence through his effective handling of the Health Ministry in the state of Uttarakhand from 2002 to 2007 in the Narayan Dutt Tiwari Cabinet. It was during this term, that the First Health Policy of the newly formed state was formulated [4], the National Rural Health Mission was launched in the state [5] and new Medical Colleges were set up [6]. The Swami Ramdev-Brinda Karat Controversy also happened during this term, which was ended by him getting an enquiry conducted by a state recognized Research Center and publishing its report to BBC News clearing Swami Ramdev of the allegations made by Brinda Karat [7].