Sumedhanand Saraswati
Indian politician
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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.
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Sumedhanand Saraswati | |
|---|---|
Saraswati in 2016 | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 1 September 2014 – 4 June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Mahadeo Singh Khandela |
| Succeeded by | Amra Ram |
| Constituency | Sikar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 October 1951 |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Alma mater | Chaudhary Charan Singh University (M.A.) |
| Profession | Social Service |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| School | Arya Samaj |
| Initiation | c.1974 |
| Source: | |
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$360), the least amongst other parliamentarians.[12][13]
During his tenure as an MP, Saraswati spent ₹ 240 million (US$ 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]