{{short description|Nepali politician}} {{use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Bam Dev Gautam | native_name = {{Nobold|बाम देव गौतम}} | native_name_lang = ne | image = Bamdev Gautam 2015 (cropped).jpg | caption = Gautam in 2015 | office = Leader of the Opposition | term_start = 23 December 1998 | term_end = 31 May 1999 | prime_minister = Girija Prasad Koirala | predecessor = Man Mohan Adhikari | successor = Madhav Kumar Nepal | office1 = Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal | term_start1 = 25 February 2014 | term_end1 = 12 October 2015 | president1 = Ram Baran Yadav | prime_minister1 = Sushil Koirala | term_start2 = 18 August 2008 | term_end2 = 25 May 2009 | president2 = Ram Baran Yadav | prime_minister2 = Pushpa Kamal Dahal | term_start3 = 12 March 1997 | term_end3 = 7 October 1997 | monarch3 = Birendra | prime_minister3 = Lokendra Bahadur Chand | office4 = Minister of Home Affairs | term_start4 = 25 February 2014 | term_end4 = 12 October 2015 | prime_minister4 = Sushil Koirala | predecessor4 = Madhav Ghimire | successor4 = Shakti Bahadur Basnet | term_start5 = 18 August 2008 | term_end5 = 25 May 2009 | prime_minister5 = Pushpa Kamal Dahal | predecessor5 = Krishna Prasad Sitaula | successor5 = Bhim Bahadur Rawal | term_start6 = 12 March 1997 | term_end6 = 7 October 1997 | prime_minister6 = Lokendra Bahadur Chand | predecessor6 = Khum Bahadur Khadka | successor6 = Budhhiman Tamang | office7 = Member of the National Assembly | term_start7 = 17 September 2020 | term_end7 = 18 January 2026 | predecessor7 = Yuba Raj Khatiwada | successor7 = TBD | constituency7 = Nominated by President | office8 = Member of the Constituent Assembly | term_start8 = 21 January 2014 | term_end8 = 14 October 2017 | predecessor8 = Narayan Prasad Adhikari | successor8 = Durga Paudel (as Member of Parliament) | constituency8 = Pyuthan 1 | office9 = Member of the House of Representatives | term_start9 = 20 June 1991 | term_end9 = 15 January 1999 | predecessor9 = ''Constituency created'' | successor9 = Kashi Paudel | constituency9 = Bardiya 1 | spouse = Tulsi Thapa | party = Nepali Communist Party | other_party = CPN (ML) (1998-2002)<br>CPN (UML) (until 1998, 2002-2018)<br>Nepal Communist Party (2018-2021)<br>CPN (Unified Socialist) (2024-2025) | birth_date = | birth_place = Pyuthan District }} '''Bam Dev Gautam''' ({{langx|ne|बाम देव गौतम}}) is a Nepalese politician and the former Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=70127|publisher=My Republica|title=18 Ministers sworn-in, Cabinet meeting held|date=25 February 2014|accessdate=16 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nepalitimes.com/blogs/thebrief/2014/02/25/meet-the-new-cabinet-of-ministers/|date=25 February 2014|publisher=Nepali Times|title=Nepali Times {{!}} The Brief » Blog Archive » Meet the new cabinet of Ministers|accessdate=16 July 2014}}</ref> Currently the senior leader of Nepali Communist Party, Gautam is a former Senior vice Chairman of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). He also served as a member of the National Assembly nominated by the President from 2020 to 2026.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2020/09/17/government-recommends-to-president-bamdev-gautam-s-nomination-to-the-national-assembly|title=Bamdev Gautam sworn in as a member of National Assembly}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2026/01/18/three-national-assembly-members-resign |title=Three National Assembly members resign |website=The Kathmandu Post}}</ref>
Gautam left Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) on 4 September 2021 and has not joined any party yet. It was reported that he may join CPN (Unified Socialist) or float a new party of his own soon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bam Dev Gautam quits CPN-UML|url=https://risingnepaldaily.com/main-news/bam-dev-gautam-quits-cpn-uml|access-date=16 January 2022|website=GorakhaPatra|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Setopati|first=Setopati |title=Bam Dev Gautam to form new party|url=https://en.setopati.com/political/157855/|access-date=2022-02-02|website=Setopati}}</ref> Later Gautam wrote an election song for CPN (Unified Socialist) after which he was thought to have joined that party. Gautam announced his own party on 28 June 2022, named the Communist Party of Nepal (Unity National Campaign).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bamdev Gautam announcing a new party today |url=https://english.khabarhub.com/2022/28/260111/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Khabarhub |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life== After completing his SLC, Gautam started teaching as a profession. He is married to Tulsi Thapa who is also a Member of House of Representatives.
== Political life ==
=== Early political career === Bam dev Gautam joined the Communist party of Nepal in 1964 and participated in full-time party activities from Rupandehi District in 1969. He became District Secretary of CPN Rupandehi in 1972. He played a major role in establishing Mukti Morcha with Madan Bhandari and Jeev Raj Ashrit. He later became Central member of Communist Party of Nepal(Marxist–Leninist) in 1980. After the merger, he was made a Politburo member of CPN(UML) and also attained the position of Deputy General Secretary of the party.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nepalhomepage.com/profiles/politics/bamdev.html |title=Nepalhomepage.com |access-date=7 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011118165218/http://www.nepalhomepage.com/profiles/politics/bamdev.html |archive-date=18 November 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
He was elected MP from Bardiya Constituency No. 1 in first General Election 1991 and Mid Term Election 1994. Later he became the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in February 1997.
=== Split of CPN (UML) and formation of CPN (ML) === Bam Dev Gautam played a major role in splitting the CPN(UML) over the issue of Mahakali treaty with India and later formed CPN(ML) on 5 March 1998. He was elected General Secretary of the party in March of that year.
=== Merger to CPN (UML) === The party failed to get a single seat in House in next election. Later, Bam Dev Gautam again joined the CPN (UML).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nepalhomepage.com/profiles/politics/bamdev.html |title=Nepal News |access-date=7 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011118165218/http://www.nepalhomepage.com/profiles/politics/bamdev.html |archive-date=18 November 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 31 August 2008, Bam Dev Gautam was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in the Maoist-led coalition government.<ref>[http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/aug/aug31/news12.php Nepal News] {{dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
=== In federal democratic republican Nepal === In February 2009, Bam Dev Gautam was elected one of the vice-chairman of CPN(UML) in Butwal General Convention.<ref>[http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2009/feb/feb25/news01.php Nepal News] {{dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> On 2 May 2010 during Maoist protests, Bam Dev Gautam called for the Prime Minister to resign to end the current political stalemate.<ref>[http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/5784-uml-leaders-urge-pm-to-resign-.html Nepal News] {{dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> He was a member of the 2nd Nepalese Constituent Assembly. He won bot the seats he contested Bardia 1 and Pyuthan 1 in CA assembly, 2013 from the CPN (UML).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/election/dr.php?dr=2 |publisher=MyRepublica.com |title=MyRepublica :: Election Special |accessdate=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152815/http://www.myrepublica.com/election/dr.php?dr=2 |archivedate=14 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://election.nepalnews.com/elected.htm |publisher=Nepalnews.com |title=Nepalnews.com - News from Nepal as it happens :: Elected Members |accessdate=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714213320/http://election.nepalnews.com/elected.htm |archivedate=14 July 2014}}</ref>
=== 2017-present === In 2022 he was defeated by Sanjay Gautam of Nepali Congress inspite of left alliance forged between CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre).<ref>{{cite web|title=Bamdev Gautam lost polls due to his own flaws: UML's probe panel - OnlineKhabar English News|url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/bamdev-gautam-lost-polls-due-to-his-own-flaws-umls-probe-panel.html|access-date=16 January 2022|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Republica|title=NC candidate Sanjaya defeats UML leader Bamdev in Bardiya-1|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/32361/|access-date=16 January 2022|website=My Republica|language=en}}</ref> Presently, Gautam serves as member of National Assembly nominated by President on recommendation of council of ministers.<ref name=":0" />
==Electoral history== === 2017 legislative elections === {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Bardiya 1 |- ! colspan="2" |Party !Candidate !Votes |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Nepali Congress}}" | |Nepali Congress |Sanjay Kumar Gautam |44,829 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)}}" | |CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) |Bam Dev Gautam |44,076 |- | style="background-color:indianred" | |CPN (Marxist–Leninist) |Nar Bahadur Bohora |2,372 |- | | colspan="2" |Others |2,228 |- | colspan="3" |Invalid votes |5,948 |- ! colspan="2" |Result ! colspan="2" |Congress gain |- | colspan="4" |Source: [https://result.election.gov.np/ElectionResultCentral.aspx Election Commission] |}
=== 2013 Constituent Assembly election === {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Bardiya 1 |- ! colspan="2" |Party !Candidate !Votes |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)}}" | |CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) |Bam Dev Gautam |18,347 |- | style="background-color:darkred" | |UCPN (Maoist) |Bhuwan Kumar Tharu |11,628 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Nepali Congress}}" | |Nepali Congress |Bhuwaneshwar Chaudhary |8,598 |- | style="background-color:darkorange" | |Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum, Nepal (Democratic) |Thakur Singh Tharu |1,174 |- | | colspan="2" |Others |3,595 |- ! colspan="2" |Result ! colspan="2" |CPN (UML) gain |- | colspan="4" |Source: NepalNews<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=25 March 2015|title=Nepalnews.com - News from Nepal as it happens|url=http://vote.nepalnews.com/election/pages/bhaktapur.php#top|access-date=23 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325225411/http://vote.nepalnews.com/election/pages/bhaktapur.php#top|archive-date=25 March 2015}}</ref> |}
{| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Pyuthan 1 |- ! colspan="2" |Party !Candidate !Votes |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)}}" | |CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) |Bam Dev Gautam |13,962 |- | style="background-color:firebrick" | |Rastriya Janamorcha |Kishna Bahadur Khadka |8,724 |- | style="background-color:darkred" | |UCPN (Maoist) |Navaraj Subedi |7,054 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Nepali Congress}}" | |Nepali Congress |Hukum Bahadur Bista |5,215 |- | style="background-color:indianred" | |CPN (Marxist–Leninist) |Yam Bahadur Gurung |1,017 |- | | colspan="2" |Others |626 |- ! colspan="2" |Result ! colspan="2" |CPN (UML) gain |- | colspan="4" |Source: NepalNews<ref name=":1" /> |}
=== 2008 Constituent Assembly election === {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Bardiya 1 |- ! colspan="2" |Party !Candidate !Votes |- | style="background-color:darkred" | |CPN (Maoist) |Sarala Regmi |17,955 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist)}}" | |CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) |Bam Dev Gautam |13,773 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Nepali Congress}}" | |Nepali Congress |Malati Sodari |6,831 |- | style="background-color:gold" | |Rastriya Prajatantra Party |Govinda Prasad Tharu |2,324 |- | style="background-color:indianred" | |CPN (Marxist–Leninist) |Nar Bahadur Bohora |1,815 |- | style="background-color:orangered" | |Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum, Nepal |Thakur Singh Tharu |1,340 |- | |Others | |1,154 |- | colspan="3" |Invalid votes |1,163 |- ! colspan="2" |Result ! colspan="2" |Maoist gain |- | colspan="4" |Source: Election Commission<ref>{{cite web|date=3 October 2009|title=Ca Election report|url=http://www.election.gov.np/reports/CAResults/reportBody.php|access-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003184536/http://www.election.gov.np/reports/CAResults/reportBody.php|archive-date=3 October 2009}}</ref> |}
==== 1999 legislative elections ==== {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Bardiya 1 |- ! colspan="2" |Party !Candidate !Votes |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Nepali Congress}}" | |Nepali Congress |Kashi Paudel |17,219 |- | style="background-color:indianred" | |CPN (Marxist–Leninist) |Bam Dev Gautam |13,247 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Nepal Communist Party}}" | |CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) |Gobinda Prasad Koirala |10,885 |- | style="background-color:yellow" | |Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Chand) |Gaurav Chand |1,646 |- | | colspan="2" |Others |2,774 |- | colspan="3" |Invalid votes |1,490 |- ! colspan="2" |Result ! colspan="2" |Congress gain |- | colspan="4" |Source: Election Commission<ref name="archive">{{cite web|date=24 January 2008|title=Finalised Constituencies With Top Two Candidates|url=http://www.election-commission.org.np/toptwo.php|access-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124110554/http://www.election-commission.org.np/toptwo.php|archive-date=24 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Election Results'99|url=https://nepalresearch.org/politics/background/elections_old/ec/alldistconst.htm|access-date=15 November 2020|website=nepalresearch.org}}</ref> |}
=== 1994 legislative elections === {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Bardiya 1 |- ! colspan="2" |Party !Candidate !Votes |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Nepal Communist Party}}" | |CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) |Bam Dev Gautam |16,933 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Nepali Congress}}" | |Nepali Congress |Phul Ram Tharu |10,949 |- | style="background-color:gold" | |Rastriya Prajatantra Party |Thakur Singh Tharu |5,757 |- ! colspan="2" |Result ! colspan="2" |CPN (UML) hold |- | colspan="4" |Source: Election Commission<ref name="archive" /> |}
=== 1991 legislative elections === {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Bardiya 1 |- ! colspan="2" |Party !Candidate !Votes |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Nepal Communist Party}}" | |CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) |Bam Dev Gautam |16,486 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Nepali Congress}}" | |Nepali Congress | |11,712 |- ! colspan="2" |Result ! colspan="2" |CPN (UML) gain |- | colspan="4" |Source: [http://nepalresearch.org/politics/background/elections_old/election_1991_constituency_results_english.pdf] |}
== See also ==
* 2021 split in Nepal Communist Party * 2021 split in Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) * CPN (Unity National Campaign)
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gautam, Bam Dev}} Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:People from Pyuthan District Category:Government ministers of Nepal Category:Members of the Rastriya Sabha Category:Nepal Communist Party (NCP) politicians Category:Nepal MPs 1991–1994 Category:Nepal MPs 1994–1999 Category:People of the Nepalese Civil War Category:Deputy prime ministers of Nepal Category:Members of the 2nd Nepalese Constituent Assembly Category:Leaders of the opposition (Nepal) Category:Nepali Communist Party politicians