Shimla: Four-time Congress MLA from Rampur seat Nand Lal died at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties (AIMSS), Chamiyana, in Shimla on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness. He was 72.Lal breathed his last around 5am. His death reduces the Congress’s strength in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly to 39 and is likely to necessitate a bypoll in Rampur. Under the Representation of the People Act, a bypoll must be held within six months of a seat falling vacant if at least one year of the assembly’s remaining term is left. The next assembly elections are scheduled for Dec 2027.Born on April 16, 1954, in Devthi village of Rampur Bushahr, Lal completed his postgraduation in political science from Himachal Pradesh University. He began his career with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police before joining the Special Protection Group (SPG) in 1985, where he served until 1997. He was associated with the security of several high-profile dignitaries, including Congress’s Sonia Gandhi, earning the sobriquet ‘Sonia’s sentinel’.After taking voluntary retirement, he joined electoral politics and won the Rampur assembly seat on a Congress ticket in 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2022. He also served as chief parliamentary secretary from 2013 to 2017 and was considered a close associate of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh.Lal is survived by his wife Satya Devi, son, daughter-in-law and grandson.Governor Kavinder Gupta and chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over his death. Sukhu recalled Lal’s contribution to Rampur’s development and public welfare.His mortal remains were brought to the Congress headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, in Shimla, where party leaders and workers paid their respects. The body was later taken to Rampur for cremation in his native village on Wednesday.The district administration postponed activities scheduled for Nov 3 and 4 under the International Lavi Fair-2026 in Rampur following his death
