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{{Short description|Member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Shobha Rani Kushwaha
|image = File:Shobharani Kushwaha with her husband.jpg
|caption=Shobha Rani Kushwaha (left) with her husband Banwari Lal Kushwaha
|birth_date =
|birth_place = [[Jhansi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
|office = Member of the [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
|term_start = 2018
|term_end = 2023
|successor =
|constituency = Dholpur Assembly constituency
|occupation = Politician
|party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|alma_mater = B.K. College Jhansi, [[Bundelkhand University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myneta.info/rajasthan2018/candidate.php?candidate_id=3918|title=SHOBHARANI KUSHWAH DHOLPUR|website=Myneta.com|accessdate=28 August 2023|archive-date=27 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127124736/https://myneta.info/rajasthan2018/candidate.php?candidate_id=3918|url-status=live}}</ref>
|profession =
|nationality = Indian
|sibling =
|website =
}}
'''Shobha Rani Kushwaha''' is an Indian politician and a member of [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) from [[Dholpur Assembly constituency]]. She was elected from Dholpur constituency in 2017 bypolls and consecutively in 2018 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly elections, as a candidate of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. Her husband Banwari Lal Kushwaha preceded her as MLA from Dholpur constituency in 2013 Assembly elections. She was expelled from Bharatiya Janata Party after it was revealed that she had done cross voting in favour of [[Indian National Congress]] candidate in [[Rajya Sabha]] election from Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. She is considered as a close accomplice of former Rajasthan Chief Minister, [[Vasundhara Raje]].<ref name=news18>{{cite web|url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/rajasthan/dholpur-mla-shobharani-kushwaha-counter-attack-at-bjp-after-suspension-says-single-promise-not-fulfilled-nodps-4313085.html|title=BJP विधायक शोभारानी कुशवाह खुलकर बगावत पर उतरीं, बोलींं- मैं और मेरा समाज बीजेपी के|website=News18|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=27 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827181415/https://hindi.news18.com/news/rajasthan/dholpur-mla-shobharani-kushwaha-counter-attack-at-bjp-after-suspension-says-single-promise-not-fulfilled-nodps-4313085.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|The BJP's own house was dented though they were hoping for cross-voting from the Congress camp. Interestingly, MLA Shobharani is considered to be from the former CM Raje’s faction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/jun/12/cross-voting-in-rajya-sabha-polls-revives-bjp-rift-in-rajasthan-raje-being-targeted-2464827.html|title=Cross voting in Rajya Sabha polls revives BJP rift in Rajasthan, Raje being targeted|website=newindianexpress|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=26 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626001051/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/jun/12/cross-voting-in-rajya-sabha-polls-revives-bjp-rift-in-rajasthan-raje-being-targeted-2464827.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

==Political career==
Kushwaha joined active politics after her husband B.L Kushwaha, who was elected from Dholpur Assembly constituency in 2013 Rajasthan Assembly elections on the ticket of [[Bahujan Samaj Party]], was given life imprisonment in a murder case. Due to this conviction, latter's candidature was cancelled and the seat got vacant in Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. Consequently, Kushwaha joined Bharatiya Janata Party, and the party decided to field her as a candidate in bypolls being conducted in Dholpur constituency, after the seat got vacant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ex-bsp-mla-s-wife-to-contest-dholpur-bypoll-on-bjp-ticket-117031500815_1.html|title=Ex-BSP MLA's wife to contest Dholpur bypoll on BJP ticket|website=Business Standard|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=15 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315151909/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ex-bsp-mla-s-wife-to-contest-dholpur-bypoll-on-bjp-ticket-117031500815_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the bypolls of 2017, after counting of votes in second round she started leading and her opponent, the Indian National Congress candidate, [[Banwari Lal Sharma]] started trailing behind her.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/dholpur-bypoll-bjp-candidate-shobha-rani-leading-by-4-704-117041300287_1.html|title=Dholpur bypoll: BJP candidate Shobha Rani leading by 4,704|website=Business Standard|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=16 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416134025/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/dholpur-bypoll-bjp-candidate-shobha-rani-leading-by-4-704-117041300287_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After final counting of votes, Kushwaha was able to win the elections, securing 91,548 votes against Congress candidate Sharma’s 52,875 votes. Latter is reported to have alleged that Shobha's husband, B.L Kushwaha influenced the voters in favour of his wife, from the prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/apr/13/bypoll-bjp-bags-dholpur-assembly-seat-in-rajasthan-1593205.html|title=Bypoll: BJP bags Dholpur Assembly seat in Rajasthan|website=The new indian express|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418230234/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/apr/13/bypoll-bjp-bags-dholpur-assembly-seat-in-rajasthan-1593205.html|url-status=live}}</ref> These bypolls were made the fight for prestige between Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party leadership. It was reported that Vasundhara Raje, then Chief Minister of Rajasthan camped in constituency along with her ministers in support of their candidate, Kushwaha. Similarly, Rajasthan's former Chief Minister, [[Ashok Gehlot]] and [[Sachin Pilot]] also campaigned in favour of Congress candidate Banwari Lal Sharma.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajasthan-bypolls-bjp-wins-dholpur-cm-vasundhara-raje-her-prestige/story-a6t0MVW3uYArVFmpKq6TJM.html|title=Rajasthan bypolls: BJP wins Dholpur, CM Vasundhara Raje her prestige|website=Hindustan Times|accessdate=28 August 2023|archive-date=26 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626143225/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajasthan-bypolls-bjp-wins-dholpur-cm-vasundhara-raje-her-prestige/story-a6t0MVW3uYArVFmpKq6TJM.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was believed that the caste equation of the constituency also worked in favour of BJP candidate Kushwaha, as the constituency was recorded to have 25,042 voters of [[Kushwaha]] community followed by [[Brahmin]] voters, who were 24,528 in number. The BJP was believed to have support of Kushwaha community, while the Congress was banking on votes of Brahmins and other communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/dholpur-assembly-bypoll-bjp-cong-locked-in-close-contest-388040|title=Dholpur assembly bypoll: BJP, Cong locked in close contest|website=The Tribune|accessdate=28 August 2023|archive-date=27 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827181458/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/dholpur-assembly-bypoll-bjp-cong-locked-in-close-contest-388040|url-status=live}}</ref> The Congress leadership of the state also alleged after the results that Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has used state machinery to help her candidate defeat her old rival, Banwari Lal Sharma.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-wins-battle-of-prestige-in-dholpur-increases-vote-share-from-27-to-62-4611946/|title=BJP wins ‘battle of prestige’ in Dholpur, increases vote share from 27 % to 62 %|website=Indian express|accessdate=28 August 2023|archive-date=1 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201175221/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-wins-battle-of-prestige-in-dholpur-increases-vote-share-from-27-to-62-4611946/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following this victory, Kushwaha was made BJP candidate in 2018 Rajasthan Assembly elections from Dholpur. With this nomination, she was about to run for the second time as the member of Rajasthan Assembly from Dholpur constituency. However, during her campaign in Jheel Ka Pura village, her supporters were attacked by locals, who pelted stones at them. It was reported that the village itself was against her husband, B.L Kushwaha, as the murder of a youth from the village was the case in which latter was convicted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/locals-pelt-stones-at-bjp-mlas-supporters-in-dholpur-5-injured/articleshow/66801543.cms|title=Locals pelt stone at BJP MLA and supporters|website=Times of India|accessdate=25 August 2023|archive-date=27 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827181424/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/locals-pelt-stones-at-bjp-mlas-supporters-in-dholpur-5-injured/articleshow/66801543.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite opposition in some corners, Kushwaha was able to retain her seat and was elected for the second term from Dholpur in 2018 Rajasthan Assembly polls.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-who-is-shobha-rani-kushwaha-why-was-she-expelled-by-bjp-2960834|title=Who is Shobha Rani Kushwaha? Why was she expelled by BJP?|website=DNA India|accessdate=28 August 2023|archive-date=27 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627154636/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-who-is-shobha-rani-kushwaha-why-was-she-expelled-by-bjp-2960834|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/jaipur/bjp-suspends-mla-for-cross-voting-issues-notice-7963576/|title=Rajya Sabha polls: In Rajasthan, BJP suspends MLA for cross-voting, issues notice|website=Indian express|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=28 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828031210/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/jaipur/bjp-suspends-mla-for-cross-voting-issues-notice-7963576/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, [[Rajya Sabha]] polls were held for four seats in Rajasthan and Kushwaha voted in favour of Indian National Congress candidate [[Pramod Tiwari]], going against her party line. In a statement made later, she justified her move to be based on her conscience. Subsequently, she was ousted from BJP for violating the directives of party's whip.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bjp-suspends-rajasthan-mla-for-cross-voting-in-rajya-sabha-polls/article65517245.ece|title=BJP suspends Rajasthan MLA for cross-voting in Rajya Sabha polls|website=The Hindu|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=18 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218151318/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bjp-suspends-rajasthan-mla-for-cross-voting-in-rajya-sabha-polls/article65517245.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> For her move, she was later praised by [[Ashok Gehlot]], who had become the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan, after 2018 Assembly polls, replacing Vasundhara Raje. During his public address in 'Inflation Relief Camp', organised by Congress government, Gehlot publicly acknowledged her step as beneficial to Congress party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/ashok-gehlot-vasundhara-raje-rajasthan-8596720/|title=Ashok Gehlot says Vasundhara Raje helped save his govt in 2020; she replies: ‘Fabricated stories’|website=Indian express|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=29 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729160819/https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/ashok-gehlot-vasundhara-raje-rajasthan-8596720/|url-status=live}}</ref>

After being expelled from BJP, Kushwaha soon became critical of BJP leadership.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/jaipur/suspended-kushwah-shoots-back-it-was-bjp-which-destroyed-my-family-7965159/|title=Suspended Kushwah shoots back: It was BJP which ‘destroyed’ my family|website=Indian express|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=27 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827013049/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/jaipur/suspended-kushwah-shoots-back-it-was-bjp-which-destroyed-my-family-7965159/|url-status=live}}</ref> She also participated in several caste assemblies. In 2023, she even participated in 'Mali Mahasangam', a caste meeting of [[Mali caste]], organised in [[Jaipur]], alongside Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, [[Keshav Prasad Maurya]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rajasthan-jaipur-mali-mahasangam-slogans-raised-cm-ashok-gehlot-support-up-deputy-chief-minister-keshav-prasad-maurya-speech-2388706-2023-06-04|title=Slogans in support of Ashok Gehlot during UP Dy CM Keshav Maurya's speech in Jaipur|website=India Today|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=2023-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824183532/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rajasthan-jaipur-mali-mahasangam-slogans-raised-cm-ashok-gehlot-support-up-deputy-chief-minister-keshav-prasad-maurya-speech-2388706-2023-06-04|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, she started participating in social services and publicly praised the developmental initiatives of Ashok Gehlot from public platforms. It was stipulated that after her expulsion from BJP, she can join Indian National Congress. According to news reports, CM Ashok Gehlot also favoured her; latter even asked the district administration of Dholpur to give primacy to Kushwaha in public functions held in the district. Due to this patronage, Congress MLAs from the region were reported to be avoiding Gehlot's public meetings many a times.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abplive.com/states/rajasthan/dholpur-mla-shobharani-kushwah-praised-cm-ashok-gehlot-rajasthan-ann-2289554|title=MLA Shobha Rani praises Ashok Gehlot, says he should become Chief Minister once again|website=Abp news|accessdate=28 August 2023|archive-date=24 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224074135/https://www.abplive.com/states/rajasthan/dholpur-mla-shobharani-kushwah-praised-cm-ashok-gehlot-rajasthan-ann-2289554|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Shobharani Kushwaha has done [[Post Graduate]] and she primarily belongs to [[Uttar Pradesh]]. Her ancestral home is in [[Jhansi]], and she is married to Banwari Lal Kushwaha, who is a resident of Jamalpur village of [[Dholpur district]] in Rajasthan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aajtak.in/rajasthan/story/shobha-rani-bjp-mla-suspended-rajasthan-rajya-sabha-elections-cross-voting-ntc-1480100-2022-06-11|title=A close accomplice of Vasundhara, who is Shobha Rani, who voted in favour of Congress candidate|website=Aajtak|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=2022-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622014618/https://www.aajtak.in/rajasthan/story/shobha-rani-bjp-mla-suspended-rajasthan-rajya-sabha-elections-cross-voting-ntc-1480100-2022-06-11|url-status=live}}</ref> She belongs to [[Kushwaha]] community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-leader-rajasthan-shobha-rani-kushwaha-rajya-sabha-cross-voting-politics-state-elections-1961263-2022-06-11|title=BJP wants to throw me out of politics, says Rajasthan leader suspended for cross-voting|website=India Today|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=2022-07-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706000903/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-leader-rajasthan-shobha-rani-kushwaha-rajya-sabha-cross-voting-politics-state-elections-1961263-2022-06-11|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Shobharani said that me and my Kushwaha community did not go to the BJP for the Dholpur by-election in 2017. Rather these people came to us. Shobharani said that some of the promises made by the party in front of the state president of the society, 20 responsible elders and youth were not fulfilled.<ref name=news18/>}} One of her brother-in-law, the younger brother of her husband— Balkishan Kushwaha is a son-in-law of former cabinet minister of [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Narayan Singh Kushwah]], who led [[Other Backward Class]] wing of Bharatiya Janata Party in [[Madhya Pradesh]] previously.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/c-10-1739007-NOR.html|title=Police force of three state behind one fugitive MLA of Rajasthan|website=dainik bhasker|accessdate=27 August 2023|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804044342/https://www.bhaskar.com/news/c-10-1739007-NOR.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{Notelist}}
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Rajasthan MLAs 2018–2023]]
[[Category:Politics of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:People from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Jhansi district]]
[[Category:People from Dholpur district]]

Shobha Rani Kushwaha - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article