Dinesh Dhanai


Dinesh Dhanai is an Indian politician. He has run as an independent MLA in Tehri and served as a minister in the last Congress government in Uttarakhand.

Early life and education

Dinesh Dhanai was born in 1970 in the village of Khand Gaon near Old Tehri, Tehri Garhwal district, into a Rajput family, to Gabbar Singh Dhanai and Phool Devi. He is an alumnus of SRTC Campus Old Tehri. He started his political career as a party worker in 1986.

Political career

Dhanai joined the Indian National Congress in 1986 at Garhwal University. He also served as a president of his university in 1992 - SRTC Garhwal University. Over the years, he has held several positions such as Joint Secretary, UP Youth Congress in 1994; Chairman- Urban Co-Operative Bank Ltd., Tehri Garhwal in 1995; Vice President, UP Youth Congress, 1999.
In 2003, he stood as an Independent candidate from Tehri Nagar Palika, defeating both Congress and BJP candidates. He served there until 2008. During his chairmanship, he contested legislative assembly elections in 2007 as an independent candidate and came in third place.
Dhanai again ran as an independent for the same seat in 2012. His attempt to enter the legislative assembly was successful, with a close margin from the INC and BJP.
He served as chairman of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam as MoS for two years.
In 2014, he was inducted into Harish Rawat's cabinet. He is currently involved with tourism, youth welfare, health education, pilgrimage, religious festivals, and culture.