Those whom the Gods love...
Ganti Mohan Chandra Balayogi
Born: October 1, 1951
Died: March 3, 2002
Age: 51
G M C Balayogi died when the helicopter in which he was travelling from Bhimavaram in the West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh crashed in a pond near Kaikalur in Krishna district.
Balayogi's parliamentary career began in 1991 when he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Amalapuram on a Telugu Desam Party ticket. He lost the 1996 election, but won the 1998 and 1999 general elections.
He reached the zenith of his career on March 24, 1998, when he was elected Speaker of the 12th Lok Sabha, the first Dalit to be elected to that important post. It was also the first time that a leader from a regional party was elected Lok Sabha Speaker. Balayogi was unanimously re-elected Speaker on October 22, 1999.
Photograph: Rediff Archives