Jayant Chaudhary
{{short description|Indian politician (born 1978)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Jayant Chaudhary
| image = Shri Jayant Singh Chaudhary.jpg
| caption = Chaudhary in 2023
| honorific-suffix =
| office = Union Minister of State(Independent Charge) Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
| term_start = 10 June 2024
| primeminister = Narendra Modi
| predecessor = Dharmendra Pradhan
| office1 = Union Minister of State for Education
| term_start1 = 10 June 2024
| alongside1 = Sukanta Majumdar
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
| office2 = President of Rashtriya Lok Dal
| constituency2 =
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 = Ajit Singh
| successor2 =
| office3 = Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
| constituency3 = Uttar Pradesh
| term_start3 = 5 July 2022
| term_end3 =
| predecessor3 = Sukhram Singh Yadav
| successor3 =
| office4 = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
| constituency4 = Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
| term_start4 = 16 May 2009
| term_end4 = 16 May 2014
| predecessor4 = Manvendra Singh
| successor4 = Hema Malini
| majority =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1978|12|27}}
| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| birthname =
| nationality =
| party = Rashtriya Lok Dal
| otherparty = National Democratic Alliance (2024–present)
| spouse = {{marriage|Charu Singh|2003}}
| children = 2
| father = Chaudhary Ajit Singh
| mother =
| relatives = Charan Singh ({{small|grandfather}})
Gayatri Devi ({{small|grandmother}})
| residence = {{ubl|16, Church Road, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi}}
| alma_mater = London School of Economics
University of Delhi
| occupation = Politician
| profession =
| cabinet =
| portfolio =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website =
| footnotes =
| awards =
| source = https://sansad.in/ls/members/biographyM/4273?from=members
| office5 = Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
| term_start5 = 2012
| term_end5 = 2012
| predecessor5 = constituency established
| successor5 = Shyam Sunder Sharma
| constituency5 = Mant
| minister1 = Dharmendra Pradhan
| citizenship = Indian
}}
Jayant Singh Chaudhary ({{IPA|Hi|dʒəjənt tʃɔːdʰəri}}) (born 27 December 1978){{cite web |url= http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4273 |title=Detailed Profile - Shri Jayant Singh Chaudhary - Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha) - Who's Who - Government: National Portal of India |work=india.gov.in |access-date=23 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521110853/http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4273|archive-date=21 May 2012}} is an American born Indian politician and farmer leader. A member of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), he is currently serving as the Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in Government of India since 2024.{{Cite news |date=10 June 2024 |title=Jayant in Union cabinet, RLD returns to 'power' after 10 years |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/jayant-in-union-cabinet-rld-returns-to-power-after-10-years-101718021337866.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240724084758/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/jayant-in-union-cabinet-rld-returns-to-power-after-10-years-101718021337866.html |archive-date=24 July 2024 |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us}} “The Chaudhary family has returned to the Union government after a gap of 10 years, with the induction of RLD chairman Jayant Chaudhary as minister of state in the NDA government, on Sunday.” He is member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh since 2022. Previously, he also served as a member of the 15th Lok Sabha from Mathura. He is a third-generation member of the Chaudhary family of Uttar Pradesh and grandson of Charan Singh, former prime minister of India.{{Cite web |title=Chaudhary, Shri Jayant {{!}} Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship {{!}} Government Of India |url=https://www.msde.gov.in/en/node/1931 |access-date=18 January 2025 |website=www.msde.gov.in}} “ Shri Jayant Chaudhary is the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, as well as Minister of State in the Education Department in the Government of India. He represents Uttar Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha and previously served in the 15th Lok Sabha. Born on 27 December 1978, he holds a master's degree in accounting and finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science. As a parliamentarian, he has been actively involved in legislative matters, notably advancing discussions on land acquisition through a Private Member Bill in the Lok Sabha. Jayant Chaudhary has contributed to various parliamentary committees including Commerce, Finance, Agriculture, and Ethics. As a member of the Rajya Sabha, he has dedicated his MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds to enhance sports infrastructure and foster a conducive sporting ecosystem.”{{cite web |url= https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jayant-chaudharys-rashtriya-lok-dal-formally-joins-bjp-led-nda-alliance-5164381 |title=Jayant Chaudhary's Rashtriya Lok Dal Formally Joins BJP-Led NDA Alliance |work=ndtv.com |date= 2 March 2024|access-date= 19 March 2024}}
Early life and education
Jayant Chaudhary was born on 27 December 1978 in Dallas, Texas, United States, to Ajit Singh and Radhika Singh. He is a grandson of Charan Singh, former prime minister of India.{{Cite web|title=Who is Jayant Chaudhary|url=https://www.business-standard.com/about/who-is-jayant-chaudhary|work=Business Standard|access-date=17 July 2022}}{{Cite news |date=9 June 2024 |title=PM Modi 3.0 council of ministers: Who is Jayant Chaudhary |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-3-0-council-of-ministers-who-is-jayant-chaudhary/articleshow/110848838.cms |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} “Jayant Chaudhary, the leader of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) party, took oath as minister of state in PM Modi's third council of ministers. Chaudhary has been actively involved in politics since 2009. He is the grandson of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh and the son of Ajit Singh, a prominent political figure in western Uttar Pradesh.” Historically the Chaudhary family has a farming background and his grandfather, Charan Singh, participated in the Indian Independence Movement and was an active member of Arya Samaj since the 1930s.{{bulleted |1={{cite book |last=McLeod |first=John |title=The History of India |year=2015 |publisher=Greenwood |isbn=978-1-61069-765-1 |page=221 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FwjJEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT255 |quote=Singh, Chaudhuri Charan (1902–1987). Politician. Born into a former royal family of the Jat caste; practiced law; joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha 1930, the Individual Satyagraha against World War II 1940, and the Quit India movement 1942; a member of the Indian National Congress 1930–1967, the Bharatiya Kranti Dal 1967–1974, the Lok Dal 1974–1977, the Janata Party 1977–1979, and the Lok Dal again 1979–1987; chief minister of Uttar Pradesh 1967–1968 and 1970; deputy prime minister of India 1977–1979; prime minister of India 1979–1980.}} |2={{Cite ODNB |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/97003 |last=Brass |first=Paul R. |author-link=Paul Brass |year=2013 |title=Singh, Chaudhary Charan (1902–1987) |quote=Singh, Chaudhary Charan (1902–1987), prime minister of India, was born on 23 December 1902 in the village of Nurpur, in Meerut district, United Provinces, India, the eldest of five children of Meer (Mukhiaji) Singh (c.1880–1960), a small farmer, of the jat caste, and his wife, Netra Kaur (c.1882–1957).}}}} He graduated from Sri Venkateswara College of the Delhi University and then he did master of science in accounting and finance from the London School of Economics in 2002.{{cite web |url= http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=4273 |title=Detailed Profile - Shri Jayant Singh Chaudhary - Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha) - Who's Who - Government: National Portal of India |work=india.gov.in |access-date=23 August 2011}}{{Cite web |title=Shri Jayant Chaudhary assumes charge as Minister of State for Ministry of Education |url=https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/jc-pr.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240612152320/https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/jc-pr.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2024 |access-date=18 January 2025 |website=www.education.gov.in}}{{Cite web |date=19 February 2024 |title=The Jayant factor: What's in the big shift for RLD, BJP |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/long-reads/jayant-singh-factor-big-shift-rld-bjp-9165956/ |access-date=18 January 2025 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
Political career
Being a third-generation member of the Chaudhary family of Uttar Pradesh, he started his political career at the time of 2009 Indian general election. He became a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha in 2009 representing Mathura as a member of the Rashtriya Lok Dal. During his tenure, he participated in debates and advocated for key issues, particularly those affecting rural and farming communities. Chaudhary introduced a private member Bill focused on fair land acquisition practices and adequate compensation for landowners.{{Cite news |date=27 April 2012 |title=RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary introduces a private member Bill in the Lok Sabha |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rld-leader-jayant-chaudhary-introduces-a-private-member-bill-in-the-lok-sabha/articleshow/12897618.cms |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
Chaudhary was a member of the Standing Committee on Commerce, the Consultative Committee on Finance, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and the Committee on Government Assurances. He has served previously on the Standing Committees on Agriculture and Finance as well as the Committee on Ethics.
In 2012, Chaudhary contested the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections from the Mant constituency. He then won the seat and boosted the RLD presence in western Uttar Pradesh, a region historically aligned with the party’s farmer-centric policies and Rashtriya Lok Dal won nine seats in these elections.{{Cite news |date=21 March 2012 |title=Jayant Chaudhary resigns as MLA |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/jayant-chaudhary-resigns-as-mla/articleshow/12348864.cms |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
File:The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu presenting the Bharat Ratna Award (Posthumous) to Shri Chaudhary Charan Singh at Rashtrapati Bhavan.jpg, Droupadi Murmu presenting the Bharat Ratna (Posthumous) to Charan Singh]]
Chaudhary lost the 2014 and 2019 general elections and this period marked a decline in the Rashtriya Lok Dal presence in Uttar Pradesh. Following the passing of his father, Ajit Singh, Jayant was appointed as the national president of the Rashtriya Lok Dal on 25 May 2021.{{Cite web |date=25 May 2021 |title=Jayant Chaudhary appointed as new RLD president |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jayant-chaudhary-appointed-as-new-rld-president-1806820-2021-05-25 |access-date=18 January 2025 |website=India Today |language=en}}
During the 2020–2021 farmers' protest, Chaudhary criticised the central government for three farm bills and called them as death warrant for farmers while addressing a maha panchayat in Agra district.{{Cite news |date=13 February 2021 |title=3 black laws a death warrant for farmers, says Jayant Chaudhary |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/3-black-laws-a-death-warrant-for-farmers-says-jayant-chaudhary/articleshow/80900457.cms |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} On 5 July 2022, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament as joint candidate of Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal.{{Cite news |date=26 May 2022 |title=SP nominates RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary to Rajya Sabha |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sp-nominates-rld-chief-jayant-chaudhary-to-rajya-sabha/articleshow/91804715.cms |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
In the 2024 general elections, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), led by Jayant Chaudhary, formed an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Following the elections Chaudhary was appointed as the Union minister of state (Independent charge) for skill development and entrepreneurship and Minister of state in the education department in Third Modi ministry.{{Cite web |date=9 June 2024 |title=Jayant Chaudhary, a Jat leader from UP, takes oath as minister in Modi Cabinet |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jayant-chaudhary-rashtriya-lok-dal-narendra-modi-cabinet-2551017-2024-06-09 |access-date=18 January 2025 |website=India Today |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Anuj |date=13 June 2024 |title=By taking oath in English, Jayant sends a message to his vote bank in the Hindi heartland |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/by-taking-oath-in-english-jayant-sends-a-message-to-his-vote-bank-in-the-hindi-heartland/article68286816.ece |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
Personal life
Chaudhary married fashion designer Charu Singh in 2003, with whom he has two children.{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-mathura-son-keeps-out-ajit-singh-invokes-his-grandfather/454656/|title=In Mathura, son keeps out Ajit Singh, invokes his grandfather - Indian Express|work=indianexpress.com|date=5 May 2009|access-date=23 August 2011}}{{Cite web |date=14 June 2017 |title=Meet Charu Singh Chodhury, the woman who left her job to follow the fashionable path |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/fashion/story/charu-singh-chodhury-fashion-zooki-lifest-982644-2017-06-14 |access-date=18 January 2025 |website=India Today |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://m.facebook.com/JayantRLD/ Jayant Singh - Facebook]
- [https://mobile.twitter.com/jayantrld Jayant Singh - Twitter]
- [https://sansad.in/ls/members/biographyM/4273?from=members Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website]
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Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics
Category:People from Mathura district
Category:Rashtriya Lok Dal politicians
Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh
Category:Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh
Category:Politicians from Dallas
Category:United Progressive Alliance candidates in the 2014 Indian general election