Sakshi Maharaj

Sakshi Maharaj Biography

Sakshi Maharaj is an Indian politician belonging to Bharatiya Janata party. A leader of controversial statements, he is a religious leader too. He currently serves as the Member of the India Parliament who got elected from Unnao in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. A 4-time parliamentarian, he has been elected to Lok Sabha for the first time in 1991 from Mathura, followed by 1996 and 1998 from Farrukhabad. He also served as a member of Rajya Sabha from 2000 to 2006. Later he was forced to leave the seat following corruption charges. He is the founder of Sakshi Maharaj Group, which runs many educational institutions and ashrams across India.  

He was born on 12 January 1956 in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh as the son of Atmanandji Maharaj Premi and Madalasa Devi Lodhi. He had close associations with popular BJP leaders of his Lodh community, Kalyan Singh and Kalraj Mishra. He turned a prominent figure of politics in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and got elected to Lok Sabha for the first time in 1991 from Mathura. He then contested and won 1996 and 1998 parliamentary elections from Farrukhabad. Alleged to be involved in Babri Masjid demolition case, he is actively involved in Ram Janmabhoomi movement also.

In the 1999 general election, he was denied a ticket, as he was one of accused of the murder of Brahm Dutt Dwivedi, a close associate of Vajpayee. He unsuccessfully contested as a Samajwadi Party candidate. Later the murder charges were dropped. In 2000 he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by Mulayam Singh Yadav. Same year he was one of the accused of a gang rape by a college principal, but the following year was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

For his controversial statements too, he has remained in limelight for wrong reasons. Calling Nathuram Godse - patriot and nationalist in parliament, telling Gandhi used to eat beef and visit temples without purification, accusing madrasas for love jihads and creating terrorists and his claim that 2015 Nepal earthquake happened due to Rahul Gandhi’s visit in the temple or inaugurating a night club in July 2018 – they are a few among those.   

Published: July 28, 2018

Updated: July 28, 2018