Swami Prasad Maurya
former Minister of Labour, Employment, Coordination in
Government of Uttar Pradesh
In office
19 March 2017 – 11 January 2022
Chief MinisterYogi Adityanath
Succeeded byManish Jaiswal
Member of Legislative Council
Assumed office
2022
Constituencyelected by Legislative Assembly members
Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
In office
March 2012 – June 2016
Leader of the House for Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
In office
May 2002 – August 2003
MLA, Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh
In office
March 2017 – March 2022
ConstituencyPadrauna (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
In office
March 2012 – March 2017
In office
March 2007 – March 2012
Preceded byRatanjit Pratap Narain Singh
ConstituencyDalmau
In office
March 2002 – May 2007
Succeeded byAjay Pal Singh
In office
October 1996 – March 2002
Preceded byGajhadar Singh
Personal details
Born (1954-01-02) 2 January 1954[1]
Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India[1]
Political party Samajwadi Party (2022–present)
Other political
affiliations		Janata Dal (1991-96)
Bahujan Samaj Party (1996-2016)
Bharatiya Janata Party (2016-2022)
SpouseShiva Maurya
ChildrenSanghmitra Maurya and Utkrist Maurya
Parent(s)Badlu Maurya and Jagannath Maurya
ResidenceUttar Pradesh
Alma materAllahabad University[2]
Profession
Websitewww.swamiprasadmaurya.com

Swami Prasad Maurya (born 2 January 1954) is an Indian politician and was a member of the 17th Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh of India.[1][2] He represented the Padrauna constituency of Uttar Pradesh. He is a member of Samajwadi Party. Maurya has been a Member of the legislative assembly for five terms, has been a minister in the government of Uttar Pradesh, Leader of the house, and Leader of the opposition. He was serving as Cabinet Minister for Labour, Employment and Co-ordination in Yogi Adityanath ministry. Until 2021, he was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party which he joined after a long stint with Bahujan Samaj Party.[3][4][5][6][1][7][8][9]

Early life and education

Swami Prasad Maurya was born on 2 January 1954 in a family of Chakwadh, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh to Badlu Maurya and Jagannathi Maurya. He is married to Shiva Maurya, with whom he has a son and a daughter. His daughter, Sanghmitra Maurya is a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Budaun.[3] He attended the Allahabad University and attained Bachelor of Laws and Master of Arts degrees.[1][2]

Political career

Swami Prasad Maurya, during his initial days with Bahujan Samaj Party with party workers.

Maurya has been a MLA for five terms. He represented the Padrauna constituency and was a member of the Bhartiya Janta Party political party. He was previously a member of Bahujan Samaj Party and was elected to the assembly as a member of BSP. On 22 June 2016, Maurya resigned from all party posts alleging a "money for ticket" syndicate being run by the party, this claim was later denied by the BSP supremo Mayawati in a press conference on the same day, where she thanked Maurya for doing courtesy on the party for leaving on his own, otherwise he was about to be expelled for promoting dynastic politics within BSP.[10]

In July 2016, Maurya announced the formation of his organisational unit called Loktantrik Bahujan Manch which launched at Lucknow’s Ramabai Ambedkar Rally Ground.[11]

In March 2017, he was appointed as Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh Government. He go ministries of Labour and Employment exchanges, Urban Employment and Poverty alleviation in Yogi Adityanath ministry.[12]

On 21 August 2019, after the first cabinet expansion of Yogi Adityanath his ministry department changed to Minister of Labour, Employment, Co-ordination.[13]

On 11 January 2022, Swami gave a huge setback to Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), by resigning from the post of cabinet minister of the Yogi Adityanath ministry and as well as from BJP just a month before the assembly elections. He said that BJP has done injustice to almost all sections of society, such as, why he resigned. BJP claims that he resigned since he was told that his son will not get a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) ticket from BJP for the upcoming 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election.[14][15]

Maurya joined Samajwadi Party in January 2022, but was denied ticket from his stronghold Padrauna, instead was asked to fight from Fazilnagar, which he subsequently lost in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election against BJP's Surendra Kumar Kushwaha.[16][17] Before 2022 Assembly elections, The Wire undertook a ground reporting in the several villages of Fazilnagar Assembly constituency for knowing the public opinion and tracking voting behaviour by various communities. It was reported that the deputy CM of Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Prasad Maurya had conducted a massive rally in the constituency to mobilize the voters to vote for Bhartiya Janata Party's candidate. The survey, however, presented a mixed opinion of various communities in the constituency. In the village dominated by Muslims, voters expressed faith in the Samajwadi Party, but many of them were observed to be supporters of Ilyas Ansari— the former district president of Samajwadi Party, who was denied a ticket from Fazilnagar to accommodate Swami Prasad Maurya in this consistency. Ansari was contesting as a candidate of Bahujan Samaj Party now. Some of the voters surveyed in a Kushwaha caste-dominated village opined that BJP candidate Surendra Singh Kushwaha— the son of former MLA Ganga Singh Kushwaha was not preferred by the voters from his community, but many others expressed faith in BJP. It was reported that, in this constituency, after the Mandal movement of the 1990s, landed OBC castes like Yadavs and Kushwaha had become dominant and BJP had been mobilizing non-Yadav OBCs along with upper castes to create a robust vote base. Besides this, the Muslim votes polled in favour of Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Ilyas Ansari was also making the BJP candidate's position strong as compared to Maurya.[18] After the counting of votes, before the polls, Surendra Kumar Kushwaha secured 1,16,029 votes, while Maurya attained the second position, logging in 71,015 votes. Meanwhile, BSP candidate Ansari grabbed 28,237 votes.[19]

After joining the Samajwadi Party before the 2022 elections to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Maurya was made General Secretary of the party. In January 2023, Maurya commented on the use of objectionable language in Hindu text, Ramcharitmanas about the women, Dalits and Tribals and subsequently demanded that religious authorities should consider eradication of the alleged undignified text from the same. In July 2023, amidst controversy over the existence of a temple below Gyanvapi mosque, Maurya alleged BJP of bringing controversial issues on the political front to polarise various religions for political gains. He further said that Archaeological Survey of India should also investigate to find whether a Buddhist monastry existed below a temple or not. According to Maurya, most of the Hindu temples in India were built after demolishing the Buddhist monastries.[20] Maurya also said that till 8th century, the popular Hindu pilgrimage site Badrinath was a Buddhist mutt. This statement was criticised by the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati, who accused Maurya of creating a wedge between the communities.[21]

In August 2023, Swami Prasad Maurya made a statement, that there are three seats of power in the country and they all work in tandem to exploit the country. He identified these three seats of power as Raj Gaddi (the office of Chief Minister and Prime Minister), the Seth Gaddi (identified with big business houses of India), and Mutt Gaddi (the seat of Shankaracharya and other seers). Maurya said that if any one of these comes in danger, the other two seats rescue it.[22] In an interview with Press Trust of India, he alleged that BJP identifies Hinduism with Brahminism, which is a religion followed by ten percent people of India. He also said that the latter had neglected the Tribals, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Class time and again. While talking to PTI, he affirmed his faith in a coalition of opposition parties called INDIA, that it would be able to defeat BJP led National Democratic Alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.[23]

Posts held

#FromToPositionComments
01Oct-1996Mar-2002Member, 13th Legislative Assembly
02Mar-1997Oct-1997Cabinet Minister in the Government of Uttar Pradesh
03Sep-2001Oct-2001Leader of the opposition, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
04Mar-2002May-2007Member, 14th Legislative Assembly
05May-2002Aug-2003Cabinet Minister in the Government of Uttar Pradesh
06May-2002Aug-2003Leader of the House, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
07Aug-2003Sep-2003Leader of the opposition, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
08May 2007Nov-2009Cabinet Minister in the Government of Uttar Pradesh
09Nov-2009Mar-2012Member, 15th Legislative Assembly
10November 2007March 2012Cabinet Minister in Smt. Mayawati Cabinet
11March 2012March 2017Member, 16th Legislative Assembly, from Padrauna
12March 2012June 2016Leader of the opposition, Uttar Pradesh Legislative AssemblyResigned
13March 2017January 2022Member, 17th Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh
14March 2017January 2022Cabinet Minister for Labour, Employment, Coordination.Resigned

Personal life

His daughter, Sanghmitra Maurya, was elected to Lok Sabha in 2019 General Elections, while his son Utkrisht Maurya is also a politician who unsuccessfully contested Assembly elections twice from Unchahar Raebareli.[24] [25][26]

Controversies

Swami Prasad Maurya had alleged about some verses of the Hindu religious text Ramcharitmanas that the Shudra caste has been degraded in it. He said that such verses should be banned and he would burn the book, on which Ramcharitmanas was burnt by his supporters, in response to this, he was lashed by all the Hindu organisations, as well as VHP. VHP burnt his effigy and also demanded to arrest him for the sacrilege of Ramcharitmanas. Later, He was promoted to the post of General Secretary of Samajwadi Party by Akhilesh Yadav. When the dissent erupted the Party distanced itself from Maurya saying that were personal remarks and had nothing to relate with the party. [27][28][29][30][31] VHP also demanded the Election Commission of India to de-list Samajwadi Party and lodged an FIR against him. [32]

In February 2023, after the Ramcharitmanas controversy, the supporters of Maurya heckled Mahant Rajudas, a priest who had announced a bounty of 21 lakh on Maurya's head earlier. In the allegations and counter-allegations, which led to an exchange of blows between the priests and Maurya's supporters, Rajudas stated that the supporters of Maurya called him a "Saffron Terrorist". While Maurya accused Mahant Rajudas of plotting to kill him. He also charged allegations upon them of keeping deadly weapons and attacking him, to which, his supporters gave befitting reply.[33]

Maurya was also criticised by some of the leaders of the Samajwadi Party itself, because of his stand on the Ramcharitmanas. However, the party in a press note released later, announced the expulsion of those leaders from the SP, who criticized Maurya. These leaders included two women veterans of the party, Richa Singh and Roli Tiwari Mishra.[34]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Member Profile" (PDF). U.P. Legislative Assembly website. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Candidate affidavit". My neta.info. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 "All MLAs from constituency". elections.in. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "2012 Election Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "2002 Election Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "1996 Election Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "रोजगार सुविधाओं के लिये उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार का वेब–ठिकाना". sewayojan.up.nic.in. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "Official website of the Uttar Pradesh Labour Department". uplabour.gov.in. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "उत्तर प्रदेश भवन एवं अन्य सन्निर्माण कर्मकार कल्याण बोर्ड". upbocw.in. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  10. ↑ "Swami Prasad Maurya an itinerant politician and a doting dad". Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "BSP rebel leader Swami Prasad Maurya launches Loktantrik Bahujan Manch, 'not a party'". 18 July 2016. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  12. ↑ "CM Yogi Adityanath keeps home, revenue: UP portfolio allocation highlights", Hindustan Times, 22 March 2017, archived from the original on 26 October 2019, retrieved 23 March 2017
  13. ↑ Qazi Faraz Ahmad (21 August 2019). "In First Cabinet Expansion, UP CM Yogi Adityanath Inducts 18 Ministers, Promotes 5". News18. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  14. ↑ Siddiqui, Pervez Iqbal; Shah, Pankaj (12 January 2022). "maurya: Ahead Of Election, Sp Maurya Quits Up Cabinet, May Join Sp". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  15. ↑ ""No More Room...": Akhilesh Yadav After Welcoming Flock Of BJP Leaders". NDTV.com. 15 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  16. ↑ Ranjan, Abhinav (2 February 2022). "UP polls: SP denies Swami Prasad Maurya ticket from stronghold Padrauna, fields him from Fazilnagar". India TV News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  17. ↑ Achom, Debanish (10 March 202). "UP Ex Minister, Who Joined Akhilesh Yadav Camp Just Before Polls, Loses". NDTV. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  18. ↑ "In UP's Kushinagar, Swami Prasad Maurya Disturbs BJP's Scheme-Aided Popularity". The Wire. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  19. ↑ "In Uttar Pradesh, BJP Turncoat, SP's Swami Prasad Maurya Loses From Fazilnagar". The Quint. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Hindu temples built after demolishing Buddhist monasteries, says Swami Prasad Maurya amid Gyanvapi row". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "Mayawati SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya stoking religious couldron". Indian express. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "Three seats of power looting country, alleges SP's Swami Prasad Maurya". Business Standard. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "BJP identifies Hinduism with Brahminism ignores 90 of India". Economic Times. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  24. ↑ "Badaun Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 UP: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's kin Dharmendra Yadav loses in Badaun by 18454 votes". DNA India. 23 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  25. ↑ "Utkrisht Maurya". Nav Bharat Times. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  26. ↑ "If it's 'Aurangzeb vs Shivaji' in UP, it's 'Ashoka vs Aurangzeb' in Bihar". the wire. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  27. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. ↑ "Supporters of Swami Prasad Maurya Mahant Rajudas heckle each other in Lucknow". Times of India. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  34. ↑ "Expelling us has exposed SPs anti-women mentality". Times' of India. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
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