Raghuraj Pratap Singh
Encyclopedia
Shubham Govil aka Raghuraj Pratap Singh, more commonly known as Raja Bhaiya (born 1969) is an India
n politician
and belongs to Bhadri family (Oudh line) of Kunda
, Uttar Pradesh
. He is currently an Independent Member of Legislative Assembly
(MLA), having been elected from Kunda in the Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, 2007
. Seen as an ally of Mulayam Singh Yadav
's Samajwadi Party
, Raghuraj has been a minister in the Mulayam government. There are multiple criminal cases, pending against him.
Raghuraj was educated at Lucknow University, contested and won the state elections from the Kunda seat in 1993, as an Independent. He was officially 26 years old.
, but was possibly
underage at the time. In the Indian general election, 1999
, he put up his cousin Akshay Pratap Singh against the incumbent Ratna Singh (also from a related family). It is in this election that Raghuraj started using strongarm and criminal intimidation tactics.
filed by a dissident Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) MLA Mr.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 3:00 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 Udai Pratap Singh and cousin Akshay Pratap Singh. Subsequently, Akshay managed to get bail, but Raghuraj's pleas were rejected many times.
Mulayam Singh Yadav
's government coming to power in 2003,
all POTA charges against him were dropped. However, the Supreme Court debarred the state government from dismissing POTA charges
Eventually the repressive POTA act was repealed in 2004, and although the court
again refused to release Raghuraj, the
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. Eventually R.S. Pandey was killed in a road accident
, which is currently being investigated by the CBI
.
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, though the threats against him were not specified.
with a margin of nearly half the votes cast over Shiv Prakash Mishra of the Bahujan Samaj Party
. He had stood as an Independent, supported by the Samajwadi Party
, and with succinct support from the Bharatiya Janata Party
, which did not field candidates against him.
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;
"they are all shadows. Raja Bhaiya, alone, is the substance.".
His cousin and political follower Akshay Pratap Singh alias Gopalji won the 2004 elections to the 14th Lok Sabha
from Pratapgarh
. Much of his campaign against Congress leader, Ratna Singh
(from a related branch of the family), was planned from the jail premises where Raja Bhaiya was incarcerated.
After the 2007 elections, Mayawati
swept to power with a majority, and Raghuraj is again under the police radar.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and belongs to Bhadri family (Oudh line) of Kunda
Kunda, India
Kunda is a town and a Tahsil in Pratapgarh district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Geography:Kunda is located at . It has an average elevation of 89 metres . Kunda is not a very old town and probably was founded during the British Raj....
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. He is currently an Independent Member of Legislative Assembly
Member of Legislative Assembly
A Member of Legislative Assembly, or MLA, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to the Legislature of a State in the Indian system of government...
(MLA), having been elected from Kunda in the Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, 2007
Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, 2007
The Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, 2007 were held in April–May 2007 to elect a government for the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.-Organisation of the election:...
. Seen as an ally of Mulayam Singh Yadav
Mulayam Singh Yadav
Mulayam Singh Yadav in Hindi मुलायम सिंह यादव is an Indian politician and has influence mainly in Uttar Pradesh state of India...
's Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party is a political party in India. It is based in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It describes itself as a democratic socialist party...
, Raghuraj has been a minister in the Mulayam government. There are multiple criminal cases, pending against him.
Life
Raghuraj was born to Udai Pratap Singh in 1969. His grandfather Raja Bajarang Bahadur Singh was the founder vice chancellor of Pant Nagar University and later the first governor of Himachal Pradesh. Raghuraj was the first in his family to enter politics; his Doon School educated father is largely a recluse. Raghuraj's Grand father had adopted his father Uday Pratap Singh. Raja Bhajarang Bahadur singh, the grandfather of Raghuraj were three Brothers 1- Bhadreshwar Pratap Singh 2-Trilochan Pratap Singh and 3- Bajarang Bahadur singhRaghuraj was educated at Lucknow University, contested and won the state elections from the Kunda seat in 1993, as an Independent. He was officially 26 years old.
, but was possibly
underage at the time. In the Indian general election, 1999
Indian general election, 1999
General Elections were held in India from September 5 to October 3, 1999, a few months after the Kargil War. The 13th Lok Sabha election is of historical importance as it was the first time a united front of parties managed to attain a majority and form a government that lasted a full term of five...
, he put up his cousin Akshay Pratap Singh against the incumbent Ratna Singh (also from a related family). It is in this election that Raghuraj started using strongarm and criminal intimidation tactics.
Jailed on terrorism charges
In 2002, on an FIRFIR
FIR or fir may refer to:*fir, a type of conifer tree*USCGC Fir, either of two buoy tenders of the United States Coast Guard*Fir , free ideal ring -Acronyms:* Falling In Reverse, a post-hardcore band...
filed by a dissident Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
(BJP) MLA Mr.Puran Singh Bundela
Puran Singh Bundela
Puran Singh Bundela is an Indian politician. He is a three-time Member of the Legislative Assembly from Mahroni constituency in Uttar Pradesh.-Early career:...
of alleged kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
and threatening with dire consequences, got Raghuraj arrested on the orders of then Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
Mayawati at the early hours about 3:00 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
Prevention of Terrorism Act
Prevention of Terrorism Act could refer to four different sets of Acts of Parliament, in three different countries:* Prevention of Terrorism Acts, passed between 1974 and 1989 to deal with terrorism in Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom...
(POTA), along with his father Udai Pratap Singh and cousin Akshay Pratap Singh. Subsequently, Akshay managed to get bail, but Raghuraj's pleas were rejected many times.
From jail to cabinet minister
Within 25 minutes of theMulayam Singh Yadav
Mulayam Singh Yadav
Mulayam Singh Yadav in Hindi मुलायम सिंह यादव is an Indian politician and has influence mainly in Uttar Pradesh state of India...
's government coming to power in 2003,
all POTA charges against him were dropped. However, the Supreme Court debarred the state government from dismissing POTA charges
Eventually the repressive POTA act was repealed in 2004, and although the court
again refused to release Raghuraj, the
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. Eventually R.S. Pandey was killed in a road accident
, which is currently being investigated by the CBI
Central Bureau of Investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
.
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, though the threats against him were not specified.
2007 Elections
In the Uttar Pradesh state elections, 2007, he was overwhelmingly elected from KundaKunda, India
Kunda is a town and a Tahsil in Pratapgarh district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Geography:Kunda is located at . It has an average elevation of 89 metres . Kunda is not a very old town and probably was founded during the British Raj....
with a margin of nearly half the votes cast over Shiv Prakash Mishra of the Bahujan Samaj Party
Bahujan Samaj Party
The Bahujan Samaj Party is a centrist national political party in India with socialist leanings. It was formed to chiefly represent Bahujans , referring to people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes as well as Buddhists. The party claims to be inspired by the...
. He had stood as an Independent, supported by the Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party is a political party in India. It is based in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It describes itself as a democratic socialist party...
, and with succinct support from the Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
, which did not field candidates against him.
He also wields considerable influence over five assembly constituencies
in the Pratapgarh region, as well as some
in neighbouring Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. In election rallies in this region where he is present,
the actual candidate may never speak or even be mentioned in his speech;
"they are all shadows. Raja Bhaiya, alone, is the substance.".
His cousin and political follower Akshay Pratap Singh alias Gopalji won the 2004 elections to the 14th Lok Sabha
14th Lok Sabha
The 14th Lok Sabha was convened after the Indian general election, 2004 held in four phases during 20 April – 10 May 2004, which led to the formation of First Manmohan Singh Cabinet...
from Pratapgarh
Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh
Pratapgarh also called Bela, Bela Pratapgarh, Partapgarh or Partabgarh, is a city and nagar panchayat of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Pratapgarh district, part of the Faizabad Division...
. Much of his campaign against Congress leader, Ratna Singh
Ratna Singh
Ratna Singh is an Indian politician from the Indian National Congress party, and represents the Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha...
(from a related branch of the family), was planned from the jail premises where Raja Bhaiya was incarcerated.
After the 2007 elections, Mayawati
Mayawati
Mayawati is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India. She heads the Bahujan Samaj Party, which represents the Bahujans or Dalits, the weakest strata of Indian society. This is her fourth term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...
swept to power with a majority, and Raghuraj is again under the police radar.
External links
- The secret of Raja Bhaiya's success Rediff - February 20, 2002