CM Dhami pays tribute to N.D. Tiwari on birth-death anniversary
Synopsis
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on 18 October 2026 paid tribute to Narayan Datt Tiwari — the first Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and a former CM of Uttar Pradesh — on his birth and death anniversary, calling his contribution to the state's development unforgettable.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami posted a tribute to Narayan Datt Tiwari on 18 October 2026 , marking both his birth and death anniversary.
Narayan Datt Tiwari was the first Chief Minister of Uttarakhand after the state was created in November 2000 .
Tiwari also served multiple terms as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh , making him one of the few leaders to have headed two Indian states.
Tiwari, a senior Congress leader, passed away in 2018 ; the tribute from BJP's Dhami reflects cross-party acknowledgement of his foundational role.
Dhami described Tiwari's contribution to the state's development as 'forever unforgettable.'
On the occasion that marks both the birth anniversary and death anniversary of Narayan Datt Tiwari — the towering Congress leader who served as Chief Minister of both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand — Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered a cross-party salute on Sunday, 18 October 2026, calling Tiwari's contribution to the state's development 'forever unforgettable.'
Posting on X in Hindi, CM Dhami wrote: 'उत्तर प्रदेश एवं उत्तराखंड के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री श्रद्धेय नारायण दत्त तिवारी जी की जयंती एवं पुण्यतिथि पर कोटिशः नमन।' — translating to: 'Countless salutations on the birth anniversary and death anniversary of revered former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Narayan Datt Tiwari ji. Your contribution to the development of the state will always remain unforgettable.'
The man who steered a newborn state
Narayan Datt Tiwari holds a unique place in India's federal history: when Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in November 2000, Tiwari was sworn in as the state's very first Chief Minister. Before that, he had served multiple terms as Chief Minister of the undivided Uttar Pradesh, making him one of the few Indian politicians to have led two different states. He passed away in 2018, leaving behind a political legacy that spans decades of Congress-era governance in the Hindi heartland.
A BJP chief minister's salute to a Congress predecessor
The tribute from CM Dhami, a BJP leader, to Tiwari, who was a lifelong Congress stalwart, underscores a well-established norm in Indian state politics: birth and death anniversaries of founding figures draw acknowledgement from successors regardless of party affiliation. For Uttarakhand, Tiwari is not merely a Congress icon — he is constitutionally embedded in the state's origin story, and no sitting Chief Minister can credibly sidestep that history.
Dhami's message, brief but pointed, arrives at a moment when Uttarakhand continues to grapple with infrastructure development, migration from hill districts, and tourism-led growth — challenges that have roots in decisions made in the state's formative years under Tiwari's stewardship.
Point of View
Signalling continuity of governance to a state electorate that remembers Tiwari as a founding father. Whether opposition parties organise larger commemorations will be a signal of how actively Congress seeks to reclaim Tiwari's legacy ahead of future electoral cycles.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Narayan Datt Tiwari?
Narayan Datt Tiwari was a senior Congress leader who served multiple terms as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and became the first Chief Minister of Uttarakhand when the state was formed in November 2000. He passed away in 2018.
When was Narayan Datt Tiwari's birth and death anniversary?
Both Narayan Datt Tiwari's birth and death anniversaries fall on 18 October, which is why CM Dhami's tribute marks both occasions on the same day.
Why did BJP's CM Dhami pay tribute to Congress leader Tiwari?
Tiwari was the first Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, making him a foundational figure in the state's history. Sitting Chief Ministers from any party routinely acknowledge such predecessors on their anniversaries, irrespective of political affiliation.
Who was the first Chief Minister of Uttarakhand?
Narayan Datt Tiwari of the Congress party was the first Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, sworn in immediately after the state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in November 2000.
What did CM Dhami say about N.D. Tiwari?
CM Dhami said that Tiwari's contribution to the development of the state would 'always remain unforgettable,' offering what he described as 'countless salutations' on the occasion.
