Sumedhanand Saraswati

Sumedhanand Saraswati
Saraswati addressing at the inauguration of the Regional Media Conference at Sikar, Rajasthan (2016)
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
1 September 2014 – June 2024
Preceded byMahadeo Singh Khandela
Succeeded byAmra Ram
ConstituencySikar
Personal details
Born (1951-10-01) 1 October 1951 (age 73)
Rohtak, Punjab, India (present day Haryana)
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
Parent(s)Maya Ram Arya (father)
Bharti Devi (mother)
Residence(s)Piprali, Sikar, Rajasthan
Alma materChaudhary Charan Singh University (M.A.)
ProfessionSocial Service
Religious life
ReligionHinduism
SchoolArya Samaj
Initiationc.1974
Source: [1]

Swami Sumedhanand Saraswati (born 1 October 1951) is an Indian politician. He served as Member of Lok Sabha for Sikar from 2014 to 2024. He belongs to Bharatiya Janata Party and is a member of Arya Samaj.

Early life

Saraswati was born on 1 October 1951 in a Jat family to Maya Ram Arya and Bharti Devi at Rohtak, Punjab (presently Haryana).[1][2] He received a postgraduation degree from Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Sanskrit.[1]

Spiritual career

Saraswati left home in c. 1974 and joined Arya Samaj.[3] Saraswati is a sadhu (Hindu monk) and has also founded one vedic ashram.[4][5] He is a former working president of Saarva Deshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, a Delhi based organization affiliated with Arya Samaj. Before entering politics, he has organised campaigns for cow protection and education of cultural tradition and Vedas.[6]

Political career

Ahead of the 2014 Indian general election, the Bharatiya Janata Party announced that on the demand of Baba Ramdev, Saraswati would contest from Sikar constituency.[7] However, local party leaders protested as they considered him to be an outsider as he hailed from Haryana. His convoy was also attacked.[7][8] In the election, he was pitted against Subhash Maharia, an independent candidate and rebel of his party.[9] On 16 May 2014, he was elected to the Lok Sabha after defeating his nearest rival Pratap Singh Jat of Indian National Congress party by a margin of approximately 239,000 votes.[10][11] In his election affidavit, Saraswati declared assets worth 34,311 (US$410), the least amongst other parliamentarians.[12][13]

During his tenure as an MP, Saraswati spent 240 million (US$ 3,428,522) from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme fund for his constituency. He also raised an issue about onion cultivation in Lok Sabha.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Shri Sumedhanand Saraswati". Lok Sabha. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  2. ^ "सुमेधानंद ने दिया जाट होने का प्रमाण" [Sumedhanand gives proof of being a Jat]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 21 March 2014. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  3. ^ "जनता के चंद असली नुमाइंदे" [The real leaders of citizens]. Navbharat Times (in Hindi). Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Just a mild touch of saffron". Millennium Post. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  5. ^ "लोकसभा चुनाव 2014: साधु और संत भी ठोक रहे हैं ताल" [Lok Sabha Elections 2014: Sadhus and saints are also playing the beat]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 23 May 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  6. ^ Deshmane, Akshay (1 April 2014). "Lok Sabha election 2014: Spiritual leaders are on BJP campaign trail, soliciting votes and dispensing blessings". The Economic Times. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  7. ^ a b "It may get intense in four Rajasthan seats". The Daily Pioneer. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Going strong, but BJP may not reach 'Mission-25' in Rajasthan". The Hindu. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Overwhelming support puts BJP in driver's seat in Rajasthan". Rediff.com. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  10. ^ "सीकर: बीजेपी के सुमेधानंद सरसवती ने लहराया जीत का परचम" [Sikar: BJP's Sumedhanand Saraswati unfurls the flag of victory]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 16 May 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  11. ^ "भाजपा सांसद सुमेधानंद सरस्वती sikar की इस सीट से लड़ सकते हैं विधानसभा चुनाव". Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 24 October 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  12. ^ Rao, Raghvendra (19 May 2014). "442 crorepatis, richest worth Rs 683 crore". The Indian Express. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Lok Sabha elections 2014: 10 interesting facts". Mid Day. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  14. ^ "नेताजी रो रिपोर्ट कार्ड...MP स्वामी सुमेधानंद सरस्वती, सीकर सीट" [Report card of leaders ... MP Swami Sumedhanand Saraswati, Sikar seat]. Eenadu (in Hindi). 5 March 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.