Raghuraj Pratap Singh Explained

Raghuraj Pratap Singh
Birth Date:1969 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Calcutta (present-day Kolkata), West Bengal, India
Residence:Kunda, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh
Nickname:Raja Bhaiya
Office1:Member of the Legislative Assembly, Uttar Pradesh
Constituency1:Kunda
Term Start1:1993
Predecessor1:Shiv Narain Mishra
Office2:Minister of Food and Civil Supplies & Prison
Term2:2004–2007
2012–2017
Office3:Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Prantiya Vikas Dal
Term3:1999–2000
2000-2002
Office4:Minister of Programme Implementation
Term4:1997–1999
Party:Jansatta Dal Loktantrik (2018–present)
Otherparty:Independent (1993–2018)
Alma Mater:University of Lucknow (1989)
Profession:Politician
Children:4 (2 sons and 2 daughters)
Relations:Ranjeet Singh Judeo (maternal uncle)
Office:Leader, JD(L) in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
Term Start:29 March 2022
Deputy:Vinod Saroj

Raghuraj Pratap Singh, (born 31 October 1969), commonly known as Raja Bhaiya, is an Indian politician, currently serving as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the 18th Uttar Pradesh Assembly, representing the Kunda assembly constituency of Pratapgarh.[1] He has been elected as an MLA for the seventh consecutive time since 1993 from the same constituency.[2] In 2018, he founded and became the national president of Jansatta Dal Loktantrik party.[3] Singh has held various Cabinet Minister positions in the Government of Uttar Pradesh of both Samajwadi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party administrations.[4] [5]

Early life and education

Raja Bhaiya was born on 31 October 1969 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal in a Rajput family.[6] [7] [8] His father is Uday Pratap Singh and hails from the Bhadri (estate) of Oudh. His mother is Manjul Raje, daughter of last ruling Maharaja Radha Charan Singh of Samthar State and sister of six-term MLA Ranjeet Singh Judeo. His grandfather, Bajrang Bahadur Singh, served as the first vice-chancellor of Pant Nagar Agriculture University and subsequently as the second Lieutenant Governor of Himachal Pradesh state.[9] [10] Raghuraj was the first in his family to enter politics; his father is largely a recluse. Bajrang Bahadur Singh had no son, so he adopted his nephew Uday Pratap Singh as his son.[10]

He graduated from University of Lucknow in 1989.[11] He married Bhanvi Kumari Singh on 15 February 1995, with whom he has two sons and two daughters.[6] [7] As per his election affidavit, Singh is an agriculturalist by profession.[11]

Political career

In the 2007 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, he was overwhelmingly elected from Kunda with a margin of nearly half the votes cast[12] over Shiv Prakash Mishra of the Bahujan Samaj Party. He had stood as an Independent.

He also wields considerable influence over five assembly constituencies in the Pratapgarh region, as well as some in neighbouring Bihar. In election rallies in this region where he is present, the actual candidate may never speak or even be mentioned in his speech.[13] After the 2007 elections, when Mayawati swept to power with a majority, Raghuraj again came under the police radar.

In the 2017 Assembly election, Raghuraj Pratap Singh defeated his opponent Janki Sharan from the Bhartiya Janata Party by a huge margin of 103,647 votes and acquired 136,597 votes in total. In November 2018, Singh launched his own party, the Jansatta Dal Loktantrik.[3] [14]

In 2005, he became the minister for Food and Civil Supplies, and despite his pending criminal cases, he came to be assigned the highest level of security (Z-category) provided by the state,[15] though the threats against him were not specified. In 2018, he voted for the Bharatiya Janta Party in the Rajya Sabha polls against the BSP candidate Bhimrao Ambedkar.[16]

In 2019, his party contested the Lok Sabha polls alone on two seats of Pratapgarh and Kaushambi.[17]

In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, Singh representing Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) defeated Samajwadi Party's Gulshan Yadav of the Samajwadi Party by a margin of 30,315 votes, acquiring a total of 99,612. Singh has consecutively been elected as the representative of Kunda assembly for the seventh time in 2022.[18] [19]

Misuse of power

POTA charges

In 2002, on an FIR filed by a dissident Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Puran Singh Bundela of alleged kidnapping and threatening with dire consequences, got Raghuraj arrested on the orders of then Chief Minister Mayawati at the early hours about 4:00 A.M. of 2 November 2002. Later Mayawati-led government in Uttar Pradesh declared him a terrorist, and he was sent to jail under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), along with his father Uday Pratap Singh and cousin Akshay Pratap Singh.[20] Subsequently, Akshay managed to get bail, but Raghuraj's pleas were rejected many times.[21] In June 2006, Raja Bhaiya was acquitted of all charges by a specially designated POTA court.[22]

From jail to cabinet minister

Within 25 minutes[23] of the Mulayam Singh Yadav's government coming to power in 2003, all POTA charges against him were dropped. However, the Supreme Court of India debarred the state government from dismissing POTA charges.[23] Eventually the POTA Act was repealed in 2004, and although the court again refused to release Raghuraj.[24] He subsequently became a powerful man in the government, and was accused by police officer R.S. Pandey (who led the raid on his house) of having launched a vendetta against him.[25] Eventually R.S. Pandey was killed in a road accident,[26] which is currently being investigated by the CBI.[27]

DSP Zia Ul Haque murder case

On 3 March 2013, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Zia Ul Haq was killed in Kunda, a constituency represented by Raghuraj Pratap Singh, during clashes that followed the shooting of the village head, Nanhe Lal Yadav. Following a complaint by the deceased officer's wife, Parveen Azad, a case was initiated against Raghuraj for his alleged involvement. The FIR identified Gulshan Yadav, the chairman of Kunda Nagar Panchayat, Harion Srivastava, a representative of Raja Bhaiya, Guddu Singh, Raja Bhaiya's driver, and two other villagers, Kamta Prasad Pal and Rajesh Kumar Pal, as primary suspects. Additional murder charges were filed against others named in the FIR. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case on 7 February 2013, for further investigation.[28] On 3 March 2013, Raja Bhaiya resigned from the state cabinet.[29] [30] On 1 August 2013, the CBI filed the final report in the CBI court giving a clean chit to Raja Bhaiya.[31] On 11 October 2013, he was reappointed as a cabinet minister with the portfolio of Food and Civil Supplies.[32]

Dilerganj massacre

His name first surfaced in Dilerganj massacre case when bodies of young girls were found in river. A mob by a group alleged to be associated with him had torched a village where villagers had refused to pay protection money to local musclemen.[33]

CBI probe

CBI which was probing the killing of DSP Zia Ul Haq gave him a clean chit in 2013.[34]

Irregularity in PDS

CBI probe in multi crore PDS scam was initiated. It was alleged that wheat & rice were diverged from Public Distribution System and even exported when he was minister of food & civil supplies.[33]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Raja Bhaiya's party bags 2 seats — he in Kunda, aide in Babaganj . . 11 March 2022 . 9 September 2023 . 8 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108094950/https://indianexpress.com/elections/raja-bhaiyas-party-bags-2-seats-7814472/ . live .
  2. News: UP polls: Raja Bhaiya, Abhay Singh win; three other musclemen lose . . 10 March 2022 . 9 September 2023 . 20 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231020034908/https://www.hindustantimes.com/elections/uttar-pradesh-assembly-election/up-polls-raja-bhaiya-abhay-singh-win-three-other-musclemen-lose-101646936868064.html . live .
  3. News: UP MLA Raja Bhaiya to float new party . . PTI . 16 November 2018 . 9 September 2023 . 8 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108094950/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/up-mla-raja-bhaiya-to-float-new-party/articleshow/66655759.cms . live .
  4. News: Upadhyay . Rohit . The Kingmaker? Rise And Fall Of Raja Bhaiya In Uttar Pradesh Politics . . 11 February 2022 . 8 September 2023 . 28 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928090043/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/india-news-the-kingmaker-rise-and-fall-of-raja-bhaiya-in-uttar-pradesh-politics/305423 . live .
  5. Web site: Rumblings in Kunda: The Challenge to 'Criminal Politician' Raja Bhaiya . 4 May 2023 . The Wire . 4 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230504090118/https://thewire.in/politics/rumblings-in-kunda-the-challenge-to-criminal-politician-raja-bhaiya . live .
  6. Web site: Members of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly . uplegisassembly.gov.in . 18 August 2020 . hi . 7 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230507013400/https://uplegisassembly.gov.in/Members/main_members_en.aspx#/Data/12244/17 . live .
  7. Web site: Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly (UPLA): Member info . www.upvidhansabhaproceedings.gov.in . 18 August 2020 . 8 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210608154308/http://www.upvidhansabhaproceedings.gov.in/member?memberId=19797 . live .
  8. Web site: Raja Bhaiya may announce new political party . 4 October 2018 . 24 April 2023 . 24 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424173044/https://www.jansatta.com/rajya/uttar-pradesh/uttar-pradesh-independent-mla-raja-bhaiya-may-announce-new-political-party-nav-ratri-kunda-mla-rajput-leader/781401/ . live .
  9. News: The highs and lows of Raja Bhaiya . . 4 March 2013 . 8 September 2023 . 8 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230908200525/https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/the-highs-and-lows-of-raja-bhaiya/story-oHhBttiIlfRnbmdhO39u1K.html . live .
  10. News: Singh . Ramendra . The Raja's Backyard . 7 October 2023 . The Indian Express . 10 March 2013 . 8 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108094959/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/latest-news/the-rajas-backyard/ . live .
  11. Web site: Raghuraj Pratap Singh(Independent(IND)):Constituency- KUNDA(PRATAPGARH) - Affidavit Information of Candidate . myneta.info . 20 November 2020 . 5 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210505205130/https://myneta.info/uttarpradesh2017/candidate.php?candidate_id=3317 . live .
  12. Web site: Election Commission of India. 2007 Uttar Pradesh state elections. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930084724/http://archive.eci.gov.in/May2007/pollupd/ac/states/S24/Aconst98.htm . 30 September 2007 . 3 March 2022. .
  13. News: Election 2002: The secret of Raja Bhaiya's success. Prem Panicker. rediff.com. 20 February 2002. 6 August 2007. 16 August 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070816172729/http://www.rediff.com/election/2002/feb/20_upr_prem_spe_1.htm. live.
  14. News: Uttar Pradesh: Kunda MLA Raja Bhaiyya announces new party, likely to field candidates in 2019 . 25 November 2019 . The New Indian Express . 16 November 2018 . 27 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327222056/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/nov/16/uttar-pradesh-kunda-mla-raja-bhaiyya-announces-new-party-likely-to-field-candidates-in-2019-1899085.html . live .
  15. News: Now, Z security for Bhaiyya . Aman Sharma . . 22 June 2005.
  16. News: Sharma . Aman . Samajwadi Party suspects Raja Bhaiyya voted for BJP . . 25 March 2018 . 8 September 2023 . 8 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230908195834/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/samajwadi-party-suspects-raja-bhaiyya-voted-for-bjp/articleshow/63454752.cms?from=mdr . live .
  17. News: Modi is popular but his MPs will struggle: Independent MLA Raja Bhaiyya . 7 May 2019 . The Times of India . 7 May 2019 . 9 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190509094414/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/news/modi-is-popular-but-his-mps-will-struggle-independent-mla-raja-bhaiyya/articleshow/69209923.cms . live .
  18. Web site: Uttar Pradesh - Kunda . Election Commission of India . 20 March 2022 . 20 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320154850/https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultAcGenMar2022/ConstituencywiseS24246.htm?ac=246 . live .
  19. News: Kunda Election Result UPDATE: रघुराज प्रताप सिंह का फिर चला जादू, सपा प्रत्याशी को 30 हजार वोटों से हराया . 20 March 2022 . News18 हिंदी . 10 March 2022 . hi . 20 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320154849/https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttar-pradesh/pratapgarh-uttar-pradesh-2-kunda-pratapgarh-assembly-seat-result-live-update-win-loss-raja-bhaiya-raghuraj-pratap-singh-sindhuja-mishra-senani-gulshan-yadav-yogesh-kumar-mu-phaheem-2-4045857.html . live .
  20. News: The gang of Raja Bhaiyya . Times of India . 24 June 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121019112748/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-24/lucknow/27973946_1_raja-bhaiyya-gang-raghuraj-pratap-singh . 19 October 2012 . 3 March 2022.
  21. News: Muscle and mafia links still matter in Uttar Pradesh . J.P. Shukla . . https://web.archive.org/web/20081016095713/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/04/15/stories/2004041500781200.htm . usurped . 16 October 2008. 15 April 2004. 9 August 2007.
  22. News: Thomas . Saji . Raja Bhaiya acquitted of Pota charges . . 3 June 2006 . 8 September 2023 . 8 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108094950/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/raja-bhaiya-acquitted-of-pota-charges/articleshow/1611156.cms . live .
  23. News: Caught in the POTA trap: Uttar Pradesh . George Iype and Ehtasham Khan . . 11 March 2004 . 6 August 2007 . 5 November 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071105070912/http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/11spec1.htm . live .
  24. News: Politician held on terror charge . Ram Dutt Tripathi . BBC News, Lucknow . 14 November 2005 . 6 August 2007 . 24 July 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080724134136/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4435840.stm . live .
  25. News: Raja Bhaiya cases: DSP being 'victimised' . The Tribune, Chandigarh . 28 August 2004 . 6 August 2007 . 15 July 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070715161102/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040828/nation.htm#7 . live .
  26. News: Night before HC says yes to his plea for CBI probe, UP cop dies . . 17 January 2007. 19 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121014072702/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Night-before-HC-says-yes-to-his-plea-for-CBI-probe-UP-cop-dies/21077/ . 14 October 2012. dead . dmy-all .
  27. http://cities.expressindia.com/local-news/fullstory.php?newsid=252533
  28. News: UP top cop killed in gunbattle following village head's murder. India Today. 15-07-14. 7 March 2013. 6 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130306011451/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dsp-zia-ul-haq-pratapgarh-up-uttar-pradesh-up-top-cop-village-head/1/252399.html. live.
  29. News: 4 March 2013 . Deputy SP's murder: UP minister Raja Bhaiya resigns . The Times of India . 4 May 2023 . 0971-8257 . 4 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230504084603/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/deputy-sps-murder-up-minister-raja-bhaiya-resigns/articleshow/18787804.cms . live .
  30. Web site: 4 March 2013 . Raja Bhaiya resigns after being booked for UP police officer's murder in Pratapgarh . 4 May 2023 . The Indian Express . en . 4 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230504084600/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/uttar-pradesh/raja-bhaiya-resigns-after-being-booked-for-up-police-officers-murder-in-pratapgarh/ . live .
  31. News: CBI gives clean chit to Raja Bhaiya in deputy SP murder case. https://web.archive.org/web/20130805192318/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-02/india/41005265_1_nanhe-yadav-gulshan-yadav-cbi-report. dead. 5 August 2013. 2 August 2013. The Times of India. 25 September 2013.
  32. News: Food ministry restored to Raja Bhaiya . . 19 October 2013 . 9 September 2023 . 8 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108094950/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/food-ministry-restored-to-raja-bhaiya/story-ukqxAWVx6Kro7Bt0mp0ZCP.html . live .
  33. News: Rashid . Omar . 11 March 2013 . Raja Bhaiya's name first surfaced in Dilerganj massacre case . The Hindu . 8 November 2023 . 3 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231103182005/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/raja-bhaiyas-name-first-surfaced-in-dilerganj-massacre-case/article4496240.ece . live .
  34. News: CBI gives clean chit to Raja Bhaiya in DSP murder case . The Indian Express . PTI . 1 August 2013 . 3 November 2023 . 3 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231103182004/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/latest-news/cbi-gives-clean-chit-to-raja-bhaiya-in-dsp-murder-case/ . live .

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