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.
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 by | Mahadeo Singh Khandela |
| Succeeded by | Amra Ram |
| Constituency | Sikar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 October 1951 Rohtak, Punjab, India (present day Haryana) |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Parent(s) | Maya Ram Arya (father) Bharti Devi (mother) |
| Residence(s) | Piprali, Sikar, Rajasthan |
| Alma mater | Chaudhary Charan Singh University (M.A.) |
| Profession | Social Service |
| Personal | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| School | Arya Samaj |
| Religious career | |
| Initiation | c.1974 |
| Source: [1] | |
Early life
editSaraswati 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
editSaraswati 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
editAhead 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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Shri Sumedhanand Saraswati". Lok Sabha. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "जनता के चंद असली नुमाइंदे" [The real leaders of citizens]. Navbharat Times (in Hindi). Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "Just a mild touch of saffron". Millennium Post. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "It may get intense in four Rajasthan seats". The Daily Pioneer. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "Going strong, but BJP may not reach 'Mission-25' in Rajasthan". The Hindu. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "Overwhelming support puts BJP in driver's seat in Rajasthan". Rediff.com. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Rao, Raghvendra (19 May 2014). "442 crorepatis, richest worth Rs 683 crore". The Indian Express. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "Lok Sabha elections 2014: 10 interesting facts". Mid Day. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "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.