- Suresh Kalmadi death ends long Congress and IOA career
- Suresh Kalmadi death recalls politics and sports tenure
Hyderabad: Suresh Kalmadi death was reported on Tuesday, marking the end of a long political and sports administration career. The senior Congress leader and former Union Minister passed away in Pune after a prolonged illness. He was 81. His passing was confirmed in reports issued on January 6.
Suresh Kalmadi was a former president of the Indian Olympic Association. He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter in law, two married daughters and sons in law, and grandchildren. Over several decades, he remained a well known figure in national politics and sports bodies. He also served as Union Minister of State for Railways and represented Pune multiple times in Parliament.
Born on May 1, 1944, in Madras, now Chennai, Kalmadi’s family roots traced back to Mangalore in Karnataka. He completed his schooling in Pune at St. Vincent’s High School. Later, he graduated from Fergusson College in Pune. After civilian education, he joined military training and studied at the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla. He then underwent aviation training at the Air Force Flying College in Jodhpur and Allahabad.
Meanwhile, Kalmadi entered electoral politics in 1982. With support from the Congress S faction led by Sharad Pawar, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member from Maharashtra. During this phase, he also served as president of the Indian Youth Congress Socialist from 1981 to 1986. Later, in 1986, Congress S merged back into the Indian National Congress. Kalmadi then became part of the reunited Congress structure.
He served multiple terms in Parliament. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha four times between 1982 and 2004. Later, he served three terms in the Lok Sabha from the Pune constituency, with terms beginning in 1996, 2004, and 2009. However, his party membership was suspended in April 2011 amid corruption investigations linked to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Kalmadi was elected IOA president in 1996 and held the post until 2011. During this period, the IOA functioned as India’s National Olympic Committee. In October 2012, under pressure from the International Olympic Committee, he announced he would not seek another term.
Later, in April 2011, the CBI arrested Kalmadi in connection with alleged irregularities in Commonwealth Games contracts. Charges were framed in February 2013. After his release on bail, he received the Asian Athletics Association President’s Award in June 2015 for his contribution to athletics in Asia.
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