Rakesh Rathour

{{Short description|Indian politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}

{{distinguish|Rakesh Rathore}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name =Rakesh Rathour "Guru"

| office =[[Second Yogi Adityanath ministry#Minister of State|

Minister of State: Urban Employment & Poverty Alleviation]]

| 1blankname = Chief Minister

| 1namedata = Yogi Adityanath

| termstart ={{start date|2022|03|25}}

| termend=

| office2 = Member of the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly

| assembly2 = Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly

| predecessor2 = Rakesh Rathore

| successor2 =

| termstart2= 2022

| termend2 =

| constituency2= Sitapur

| source =

| party = Bharatiya Janata Party

| birth_name =

| father =

| country =

| nationality =

| occupation = Politician

| profession =

}}

Rakesh Rathore alias Guru, alternatively Rakesh Rathour is an Indian politician representing Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh Assembly constituency since 2022. He is a member of Bharatiya Janata Party.{{cite web |title=जानिए कौन हैं राकेश राठौर, जो कभी साइकिल पंक्‍चर लगाते थे आज योगी आदित्यनाथ की सरकार में बने मंत्री |url=https://www.jansatta.com/rajya/uttar-pradesh/who-is-rakesh-rathore-mla-from-sitapur-sadar-became-minister-in-yogi-government/2101747/ |website=Jansatta |language=hi}} Rathore won in 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election.{{cite web |title=22 दिनों में मैकेनिक से विधायक बन गए राकेश राठौर, 53 दिनों में तय किया मंत्री पद तक का सफर |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/uttar-pradesh/news/yogi-adityanath-cabinet-minister-sitapur-bjp-mla-rakesh-rathore-urf-guru-political-journey-129623442.html |website=Bhaskar}}{{cite web |title=rakesh-rathour in Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 |url=https://www.news18.com/assembly-elections-2022/uttar-pradesh/rakesh-rathour-sitapur-candidate-s24a146c02/ |website=News18 |language=en}}https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultAcGenMar2022/ConstituencywiseS24146.htm?ac=146 He was a car mechanic who had the same name as the previous MLA Rakesh Rathore. The previous MLA fell into controversy with the Yogi Adityanath government after audio clips were leaked of his private conversations in which he was being extremely critical and harsh on the government after which Rakesh Rathour was found and made his replacement.{{Cite news |date=2022-02-03 |title=Uttar Pradesh: Former auto mechanic gets BJP's ticket from Sitapur |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/uttar-pradesh-former-auto-mechanic-gets-bjps-ticket-from-sitapur/articleshow/89328339.cms |access-date=2024-10-16 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |last=Vij |first=Shivam |date=2020-04-29 |title=The difficulty of being Rakesh Rathore, or why the BJP’s caste coalition in UP is rocky |url=https://theprint.in/opinion/difficulty-of-being-rakesh-rathore-in-bjp-up/411311/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}

In 2023, Rakesh Rathour himself became the subject of a major controversy after a video surfaced showing his sons, their driver and gunner attacking and tearing the clothes of two women, a police complaint was filed against them but no action was taken.{{Cite web |title=UP Shocker: Minister Rakesh Rathore’s Sons, Gunner Thrash & Tear Women’s Clothes In Sitapur; Opposition Slams After Video Surfaces |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-shocker-minister-rakesh-rathores-sons-gunner-thrash-tear-womens-clothes-in-sitapur-opposition-slams-after-video-surfaces |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}