Rajiv Pratap Rudy

Rajiv Pratap Rudy (born 30 March 1962) is an Indian politician, representing Bharatiya Janata Party,[1] and a Member of Parliament representing Saran (Lok Sabha constituency) in Bihar, India.[2] In November 2014, he was made Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in Narendra Modi's government, a key ministry in view of Modi's slogan of 'Make in India' and associated attempts to make India a production hub. He also shared Parliamentary Affairs department jointly with another Minister of State, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Rudy was a General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party, a position relinquished soon after he joined the government. He also holds a commercial pilot's license. Rudy is in Limca Book of Records for being the only parliamentarian to fly a commercial aircraft having flown Airbus-320 and Indigo airlines.[3][4]

Rajiv Pratap Rudy
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office 2014
Preceded by	Lalu Prasad yadav
Constituency	Saran
In office 1999–2004
Preceded by	Heera Lal Rai
Succeeded by	Lalu Prasad Yadav
Constituency	Chapra
In office 1996–1997
Preceded by	Lal Babu Rai
Succeeded by	Heera Lal Rai
Constituency	Chapra
Minister of State (Independent Charge) Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
In office November 2014 – 31 August 2017
Prime Minister	Narendra Modi
Preceded by	Sarbananda Sonowal
Succeeded by	Dharmendra Pradhan
Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly
In office 1994–1995
Personal details
Born	(1962-03-30) 30 March 1962 Amnour, Saran, Bihar, 841401, India
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party (1999–present) Bihar People's Party (1995-1999)
Spouse(s)	Neelam Pratap (1991-present)
Children	2
Alma mater	Panjab University also working as commercial pilot

Early life

Rajiv Pratap Rudy was born to Vishwanath Singh and Prabha Singh on 30 March 1962 in Patna, Bihar.[5][6] His ancestral village is Amnour, Saran, Bihar.[7][8] He belongs to the Rajput caste[9][10] and he is from a Royal Family. He is considered as one of the most Educated leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party.[11] Rudy completed his school education from St. Michael's High School, Patna.[12] Later, he completed his pre-university and pre-engineering from DAV College, Chandigarh in Sector 10. Rudy completed his graduation in B.A (Hons.) in Economics at Government College, Chandigarh, Sector 11. Rudy completed a degree in Law from Panjab University in 1985 and did post-graduation in Economics from Magadh University in 1987.

Rudy was a lecturer of Economics in A.N. College, Patna prior to entering politics,[13] but he had been involved in student politics while at Panjab University Campus, Sector 14, Chandigarh and in Government College, Sector, 11, Chandigarh, which is affiliated to Panjab University, Chandigarh.[14]

Political career

Rudy was the campaign in charge of Harmohan Dhawan, who was contesting from the Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency in 1989. He was actively associated with former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar. Rudy was first elected in 1990 as a Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Janata Dal ticket from Taraiya at the age of 28.[15] He was elected to the Lok Sabha - the lower house of the Parliament of India - as a candidate of the BJP.[15] He was re–elected for a second term of Lok Sabha in 1999, from Chapra (Lok Sabha constituency) for BJP.[15] He served as the Minister of State for Commerce, Trade & Industry and subsequently became Civil Aviation Minister with independent charge in the National Democratic Alliance government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.[16][15] During that tenure, Rudy was in controversy of non-payment of his bills at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa, which he had to later pay.[16]

Rudy had earlier held the post of National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. He was a General Secretary and member of the BJP National Executive.

Rajiv Pratap Rudy at an event in Sonpur

Rudy lost to Lalu Prasad in 2004 General elections in Chapra (Lok Sabha constituency).[17][18] He was elected to Rajya Sabha from Bihar in 2010.[5][19][20] He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections from Saran (Lok Sabha constituency) and defeated former Chief Minister of Bihar, Rabri Devi.[21][22] He was sworn-in as Minister of State on 9 November 2014 and got Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.[23]

In October 2015, Rajiv Pratap Rudy was in a controversy over sharing on Twitter a screenshot of Pakistan's daily Dawn website carrying Nitish Kumar's ad of vote appeal during 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, prompting JD (U) to launch a sharp attack on him and seek his immediate sacking.[24] He submitted his resignation from the cabinet on 31/8/2017 prior to imminent reshuffle on 2/9/2017.

Personal life

Rudy married Neelam Pratap on 9 March 1991 at the age of 29.[25][26] They have two daughters.[15] Elder daughter Avshreya Rudy (born 1993) is a lawyer and also a polo player[27] His younger daughter Atisha Pratap Singh (born 2000) is a kuchipudi dancer.[28][29][30][31]

References

1. "Bringing out the jazz & blues for July 4".
2. "It is a Clash of 'Stylish' Titans in Bihar's Saran as Rajiv Rudy, Chandrika Rai Give Classy Twist to LS Battle". 3 May 2019.
3. "We politicians have betrayed nation: Rajiv Pratap Rudy".
4. "Lunch with BS: Rajiv Pratap Rudy". Business Standard India. 10 April 2015.
5. "Rudy details for Rajya Sabha June 2010" (PDF).
6. "Rudy profile" (PDF).
7. "Amnour village" (PDF).
8. Chowdhury, Kavita (18 April 2014). "Rudy, a Rajput from Amnaur and a trained commercial pilot". Business Standard India.
9. Kumar, Ashwani (2008). Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar. Anthem Press. ISBN 978-1-84331-709-8.
10. PatnaMay 30, Amitabh Srivastava; May 30, 2014UPDATED:; Ist, 2014 17:14. "The question in Bihar: Why are Rudy, Shahnawaz and Ram Kripal not in Modi ministry?". India Today. Retrieved 6 August 2020.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
11. "Rajiv Pratap Rudy Biography - About family, political life, awards won, history". Elections in India. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
12. "Made in Chandigarh: Panjab University groomed me for politics, says MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy". 22 June 2018.
13. "National Portal of India".
14. "JET SET GO".
15. "Member's Web Site". Archived from the original on 13 January 2009.
16. "Hotel bill row: BJP defends Rajiv Pratap Rudy, political slugfest kicks off".
17. "Keen contests Lalu Yadav v Rudy 2004".
18. "countermand Chhapra".
19. "Ram Vilas Paswan, Rajiv Pratap Rudy win Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar". Hindustan Times. 17 June 2010. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
20. "National Office Bearers". Retrieved 24 December 2013.
21. "Saran win".
22. "Rudy defeats Rabri Devi". 14 March 2014.
23. "Cabinet Expansion: Manohar Parrikar gets Defence, Harsh Vardhan transferred from Health to Science Ministry". New Delhi: PTI. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
24. "Failed By a Screenshot, Rajiv Pratap Rudy Faces Digital Jibes".
25. "Leading a full life".
26. "Rudy archive profile".
27. "A polo-nial queen's sport". 15 March 2016.
28. "Asharaje Gaekwad hosts HVR Baroda Cup Polo tournament at the Jaipur Polo Grounds in Delhi - Times of India".
29. "Weaving Ties with Ikat".
30. "राजनीति का ककहरा सीख रही हैं राजीव प्रताप रूडी की बेटी".
31. "सियासत में कदम रखने को तैयार भाजपा के दिग्गज नेता की बेटी, जान लीजिए नाम".

Lok Sabha
Preceded by Lal Babu Rai	Member of Parliament for Chapra 1996 – 1998	Succeeded by Heera Lal Rai
Preceded by Heera Lal Rai	Member of Parliament for Chapra 1999 – 2004	Succeeded by Lalu Prasad Yadav
Preceded by Lalu Prasad Yadav	Member of Parliament for Saran 2014 – Present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Ministry Created	Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 26 May 2014 – 3 September 2017 Minister of State (Independent Charge)	Succeeded by Dharmendra Pradhan

External links

• Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Twitter
• Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Facebook