Surjit Singh Rakhra

Surjit Singh Rakhra
MLA, Punjab
In office
2002–1997
Preceded byJagtar Singh Rajla
Succeeded byBrahm Mahindra
ConstituencySamana
In office
2012–2017
Preceded byBrahm Mahindra
ConstituencySamana
Water Supply & Sanitation, Higher Education & Languages
In office
2012–2017
Personal details
Political partyShiromani Akali Dal
Residence(s)Rakhra, Patiala, Punjab, India
Websitehttps://www.surjitsinghrakhra.co.in

Surjit Singh Rakhra is an Indian politician who belongs to the Shiromani Akali Dal. He was Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation, Higher Education and Languages (2012–2017) in the Punjab Government.[1][2] In 2019 Parliament Elections, he lost the election[3] to Preneet Kaur of the Indian National Congress.

Family

His father is Kartar Singh Dhaliwal and his mother is Jaswant Kaur. His brothers, Darshan Singh Dhaliwal and Charanjit Singh Dhaliwal are businessmen in the United States.[4][5][6]

Political career

He was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 2002 on an Akali Dal ticket from Samana.[7][8] He was re-elected from Samana in 2012.[9] He has served as Minister for water supply and sanitation, higher education and languages in the Punjab government led by Parkash Singh Badal. However, he lost the Parliamentary elections from Patiala in 2019.

Controversy

Rakhra generated considerable controversy when he declared that the alleged killing of a young girl by a bus driver operated by the Badal family that controls the Punjab government was an accident and "God's will".[10]

References

  1. ^ Punjab Cabinet Ministers Portfolios 2012[usurped]
  2. ^ Punjab government dissolves panchayat bodies
  3. ^ "Patiala Election Result 2019: Congress' Parneet Kaur wins with 162718 margin". Times Now News. 9 May 2020.
  4. ^ Punjab CM condoles demise of Rakhra's wife[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ Well-oiled machine
  6. ^ Shooting casts shadow on "power wedding"
  7. ^ "Punjab Assembly Election 2002 Results". Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  8. ^ Punjab Assembly Elections-2002 winners
  9. ^ Results Punjab State Assembly Elections 2012 Archived 6 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Incident was God's will: Surjit Singh Rakhra's ridiculous defence of Badals on Moga teen's death". 2 May 2015.