Udit Raj
 | This article is an autobiography or has been extensively edited by the subject or by someone connected to the subject. (April 2019) |
Udit Raj (born 1 January 1958) is an Indian politician and member of Indian National Congress.[1] He was a Member of Parliament between 2014 and 2019 in the Lok Sabha, representing the North West Delhi as a member of Bharatiya Janata Party. Raj is also the National Chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations.[2][3][1]
Dr.Udit Raj | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 16 May 2014 – 23 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Krishna Tirath |
| Succeeded by | Hans Raj Hans |
| Constituency | North West Delhi |
| Majority | 1,06,802 (7.88%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1958 Ramnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress (2019-present) |
| Other political affiliations | Bharatiya Janata Party (2014-2019) |
| Spouse(s) | Seema Raj ( m. 1990) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Osmania University (MA, 1988) Bible College and Seminary Kota , Rajasthan (Hon Dr. 2003) |
| Profession | Civil servant (Indian Revenue Service), social activist, writer, politician |
| Website | uditraj |
Life and educationEdit
Raj was born on 1 January 1958 in Ramnagar, Uttar Pradesh to Kallan and Sukhdei.[4] He completed Master of Arts from Osmaniya University 1988 and received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Bible College and Seminary Kota, Rajasthan in 2003.[4][5] He married Seem Raj on 24 March 1990, with whom he has a son and a daughter.[4] Raj was selected for the Indian Revenue Service in 1988 and served as the Deputy Commissioner, Joint Commissioner and Additional Commissioner of Income Tax at New Delhi. On 24 November 2003, he resigned from government service and formed the Indian Justice Party.[4] He is also a businessperson and a consultant, apart from being a politician and a social worker.[4][5]
Political careerEdit
Raj joined the BJP on 23 February 2014. In the past he had opposed the BJP,[6][citation needed] but after getting a BJP ticket for Lok Sabha, he said that it was more sympathetic to the SC and ST communities and declared that the "Dalits have a brighter future in BJP".[7] On being denied a ticket to contest for the 2019 Indian general election, Raj quit the BJP and joined the Congress, saying that the BJP "is against the interests of Dalits".[1]
Raj, a Dalit, converted from Hinduism to Buddhism in 2001.[8]
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Denied ticket by the BJP, Udit Raj joins Congress". Hindustan Times. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ↑ Ashok, Sowmiya (19 November 2014). "Udit Raj to be part of SC/ST 'Maha Rally'". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ↑ "Noted Dalit Activist Udit Raj joins Bharatiya Janata Party". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Members : Lok Sabha". 164.100.47.194. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Udit Raj(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- NORTH WEST DELHI(NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI) - Affidavit Information of Candidate:". myneta.info. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ↑ Udit Raj (22 June 2004). "Reservation For Dalits In Private Sector". countercurrents.org.
- ↑ "Dalits have bright future in BJP". The Statesman. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ↑ Varagur, Krithika (11 April 2018). "Converting to Buddhism as a Form of Political Protest". The Atlantic. Retrieved 12 April 2018.