Son of Shri Mahant Ram; born on 10th April,1944 at village Samirpur, Distt. Hamirpur; M.A., LL.B.; educated at Doaba College, Jallandhar and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar; married to Smt. Sheela Dhumal; two sons; Teacher and Agriculturist. Associated with various social organizations such as Bharat Vikas Parishad, Vivekanand Memorial Society and Himachal Hitkarini Sabha.

        Remained State Secretary, B.J.Y.M., 1980-82; Vice- President, B.J.Y.M, 1982-85; General Secretary, State BJP, 1985-93, and State President, BJP, 1993 –98 .

        Elected to Lok Sabha in 1989, 1991 and 2007 (by-election) from Hamirpur Parliamentary Constituency; remained Member: Consultative Committee, Ministry of Communication 1989-96, ii) Standing Committee on Transport & Tourism, 1991-96, iii) Railway Convention Committee, 1991-96, and iv) National Council for Teachers’ Education, 1993-96; also remained Alternate Chairman, Estimates Committee, Lok Sabha, 1989-91.

        Elected to State Legislative Assembly in 1998 and 2003. Remained Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, 1998-2003; and Leader of B.J.P, Legislature Group, March 2003 to June 16, 2007.

        Elected to State Legislative Assembly again in December, 2007; resigned from Lok Sabha was sworn in again as Chief Minister on 30-12-2007.