CM Sai Pays Tribute to Former President K.R. Narayanan

Key Takeaways

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai posted a tribute to K.R.

Narayanan on November 9, 2026 , his death anniversary.

Narayanan served as India's 10th President from 1997 to 2002 .

Narayanan was the first person from a Dalit background to hold the office of President of India.

The tribute was posted in Hindi on X, with Sai offering 'sadar naman' — respectful homage.

Indian political leaders across parties routinely mark November 9 with similar tributes to Narayanan, reflecting cross-party respect for the presidency.

On the death anniversary of K.R. Narayanan, India's 10th President and the first Dalit to hold the country's highest constitutional office, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai offered his respects on Monday, November 9, 2026.

Posting on X in Hindi, CM Sai wrote: 'भारत के पूर्व राष्ट्रपति के. आर. नारायणन जी की पुण्यतिथि पर उन्हें सादर नमन' — 'Respectful tribute to former President of India K.R. Narayanan on his death anniversary.'

A Landmark Presidency, Remembered Every November

K.R. Narayanan, born in 1920 in Uzhavoor, Kerala, served as President from 1997 to 2002 under two successive governments. His ascent to Rashtrapati Bhavan was historic — he was the first person from a Dalit background to occupy the office, a moment that carried profound constitutional and social weight for a republic built on the promise of equality.

Before the presidency, Narayanan had a distinguished career as a diplomat, academic, and politician, serving in key ministerial roles and as Vice President before his election to the highest office. His tenure was marked by a notably active interpretation of presidential discretion, particularly during periods of political flux.

A Tribute That Crosses Party Lines

CM Sai's tribute follows a well-established practice among Indian political leaders: offering public homage to former presidents and constitutional figures on fixed calendar dates, regardless of party affiliation. November 9 sees similar acknowledgements from leaders across the political spectrum every year — a quiet but consistent thread of institutional continuity.

For a BJP leader like Sai to honour a figure who rose through the Congress-aligned political ecosystem speaks to the presidency's standing above partisan memory. The office, the gesture implies, belongs to the republic — not to any one party's history.

Point of View

Whose historic elevation as India's first Dalit President carries enduring social resonance, such cross-party acknowledgements carry quiet political significance. It signals, at minimum, a willingness to publicly recognise milestones in India's Dalit representation at the republic's apex. As Chhattisgarh's first tribal Chief Minister, Sai's tribute to Narayanan carries a certain personal echo in the arc of representation.

NationPress

9 Nov 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was K.R. Narayanan?

K.R. Narayanan was India's 10th President , serving from 1997 to 2002 . He was the first person from a Dalit background to hold the office, and had a distinguished prior career as a diplomat, academic, and politician.

When did K.R. Narayanan die?

K.R. Narayanan passed away on November 9, 2005 , and his death anniversary is observed annually on that date.

Why did CM Vishnu Deo Sai pay tribute to K.R. Narayanan?

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute on K.R. Narayanan's death anniversary, November 9 , following the established practice of Indian leaders honouring former presidents on significant calendar dates.

Was K.R. Narayanan the first Dalit President of India?

Yes. K.R. Narayanan was the first person from a Dalit background to serve as President of India, making his tenure from 1997 to 2002 a historic milestone in the country's constitutional history.

Who is Vishnu Deo Sai?

Vishnu Deo Sai is the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and a senior BJP leader who assumed office in 2023 . He is notably the state's first tribal Chief Minister.