Ram Subhag Singh
Ram Subhag Singh (7 July 1917 – 16 December 1980) was an Indian politician and freedom fighter associated with the Indian National Congress, who represented Bihar in the Lok Sabha for four consecutive terms from 1952 to 1971.[1][2] As the first recognised Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha from December 1969 to December 1970, following the split in the Congress party, he played a pivotal role in establishing the formal opposition leadership in India's lower house of Parliament.[3][4] In 1969, during his brief tenure as Union Minister of Railways under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Singh announced and oversaw the introduction of the Rajdhani Express, India's inaugural superfast premium train service connecting New Delhi to Howrah, which revolutionized long-distance rail travel by emphasizing speed, air-conditioned comfort, and onboard catering.[5][6] Earlier serving as Minister of Communications and Steel and Mines, his career reflected a commitment to infrastructure development and parliamentary opposition, though his alignment with the Congress (O) faction after the party split marked a defining shift from ruling to opposition dynamics.[1]