BC Khanduri, Former Uttarakhand CM and Army Veteran, Passes Away at 91

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In Uttarakhand's political memory, there are very few leaders who were simply called "General Sahab" - not as a formality, but as a statement of character. Major General (Retd.) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, born on October 1, 1934, in Dehradun, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91 at Max Hospital in Dehradun, where he had been undergoing treatment for age-related health complications. The news triggered a wave of grief across the state and well beyond it.

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His son Manish Khanduri confirmed that the former Chief Minister had been unwell for a long time before breathing his last at the hospital. He is survived by his wife Aruna, son Manish, and daughter Ritu Khanduri Bhushan.

From the Army to the Assembly

Khanduri pursued his education at the University of Allahabad, the College of Military Engineering in Pune, the Institution of Engineers in Delhi, and the Institute of Defence Management in Secunderabad, before retiring from the Indian Army as a Major General.

He entered active politics during the Ram Mandir movement in the 1990s, joining the Bharatiya Janata Party and approaching his new arena with the same determination that had defined his years in uniform. In 1991, he was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time from the Garhwal constituency - a seat he would go on to win again in 1998, 1999, and 2004.

The Man Who Built India's Highways

Khanduri served as Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 2000 to 2002, before being elevated as Union Cabinet Minister from 2002 to 2004. The tenure left a permanent mark on India's physical landscape.

His tenure at the ministry coincided with a transformative phase in India's infrastructure development. Khanduri played a major role in implementing the BJP-led government's ambitious National Highway Development Project. The landmark Golden Quadrilateral project - aimed at connecting the country's four major metropolitan cities through a modern highway network - progressed significantly under his leadership.

Chief Minister Twice - and a Resignation That Defined Him

Khanduri served two terms as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand - first from 2007 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2012. The gap between those two terms is itself a piece of political history.

He resigned from the post in 2009, accepting moral responsibility for the BJP losing all five Lok Sabha seats in the state. The BJP reappointed him as Chief Minister in 2011. It was a rare moment in Indian politics - a leader stepping down not under pressure, but out of principle.

During his tenure, he took stringent measures against corruption and laid the foundation for a transparent and disciplined administration within the state. He reduced the security cover provided to politicians and bureaucrats, cut down foreign travel allowances, and restricted the use of the Chief Minister's office for personal benefit.

A Nation Pays Its Respects

उत्तराखंड के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री मेजर जनरल भुवन चंद्र खण्डूडी (सेवानिवृत्त) जी के निधन से अत्यंत दुख हुआ है। सशस्त्र बलों से लेकर राजनीतिक जगत में उन्होंने बहुमूल्य योगदान दिया, जिसके लिए उन्हें सदैव याद किया जाएगा। उत्तराखंड के विकास के लिए वे हमेशा समर्पित रहे, जो मुख्यमंत्री के… pic.twitter.com/JNhgOsj0eY

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 19, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply saddened" by the passing of Khanduri, adding that from the armed forces to the political arena, he had made "invaluable contributions" and would always be remembered, and that Khanduri remained forever dedicated to the development of Uttarakhand.

President Droupadi Murmu described the news as "extremely heartbreaking" and remembered his commitment to the development of Uttarakhand and public welfare, saying his dedication to good governance and public welfare "will always remain memorable."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah called it an "irreparable loss for Uttarakhand," noting that Khanduri remained dedicated throughout his life to the resolve of "Nation First."

Senior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, cutting across party lines, described Khanduri as a leader without enemies.