In a solemn moment during Uttar Pradesh Assembly’s budget session, lawmakers united to remember two fallen comrades: BJP’s Professor Shyam Bihari Lal from Faridpur and SP’s Vijay Singh Gond from Dudhi. On Tuesday, the second day of proceedings, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath moved the obituary references, leading to a poignant two-minute silence before adjournment to Wednesday.
Describing Lal as a people’s man rooted in simplicity, Yogi noted his dual election victories in 2017 and 2022. A scholar from education circles, Lal served on JNU’s executive and led Bareilly’s history panel. He tirelessly pushed development works and upliftment for the poor and deprived, embodying how academics fortify democracy.
Vijay Singh Gond earned accolades as a tribal champion, securing Dudhi eight times since 1980—1980, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2002, and the 2024 bypoll. Despite switching affiliations, his focus remained on core issues like jal-jungle-zameen rights, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and employment. Straightforward and resilient, Gond’s demise marks a huge setback for marginalized voices.
The CM detailed Lal’s death at 60 on January 2, 2026, and Gond’s at 71 on January 8. Tributes poured from across aisles—SP’s Mata Prasad Pandey, Congress, JD(L), SBSP leaders evoking their service ethos. Speaker Satish Mahana spoke for all, lamenting the void left by these dedicated souls.
As the house approved the motion, eyes turned to tomorrow’s budget unveiling for 2026-27. This gathering of grief highlighted cross-party respect, celebrating lives that bridged academia, tribal advocacy, and grassroots politics in UP’s vibrant legislative landscape.