Dinesh Dhanai

Dinesh Dhanai (born 4 November 1970) is an Indian politician. He has run as an independent MLA in Tehri (2012-2017) and served as a minister in the last Congress government in Uttarakhand.

Early life and education
Dinesh Dhanai was born in 1970.

Political career
Dhanai joined the Indian National Congress in 1986 at Garhwal University (SRTC). He also served as a president of his university in 1992 - SRTC Garhwal University (Old Tehri). Over the years, he has held several positions such as Joint Secretary, UP Youth Congress (2nd term) 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.

Uttarakhand Jan Ekta Party
In 2019, Dhanai announced the formation of a new political party, the Uttarakhand Jan Ekta Party, with the intent of representing issues relating to the state of Uttarakhand on the national level.