Vijaylakshmi Devi
{{Short description|Member of Indian parliament}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name =
| image = File:Vijay Lakshmi Kushwaha (cropped).jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|05|17|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| residence =
| constituency = Siwan Lok Sabha constituency
| office = Member of parliament,
Lok Sabha
| term_start = 4 June 2024
| term_end =
| predecessor = Kavita Singh (politician)
| successor =
| party = Janata Dal (United)
| religion =
| alma_mater =
| spouse = Ramesh Singh Kushwaha
| children = Kunal Singh Kushwaha
| profession = Politician
| nationality = Indian
| footnotes =
| date =
| year =
| source =
}}
Vijaylakshmi Devi also known as Vijay Lakshmi Kushwaha{{cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/siwan/news/nda-candidate-vijay-laxmi-kushwaha-will-file-nomination-on-saturday-132965464.html|title=एनडीए प्रत्याशी विजय लक्ष्मी कुशवाहा शनिवार को नामांकन करेंगी दाखिल:जिला अध्यक्ष ने कहा सभा का होगा आयोजन, कई दिग्गज नेता होंगे शामिल |website= Dainik Bhaskar|accessdate=5 June 2024}} is an Indian politician and a member of Indian Parliament, Lok Sabha from Siwan Lok Sabha constituency. She was elected to the Lok Sabha on the symbol of Janata Dal (United) in 2024 Indian general election. She is the wife of former JDU legislator, Ramesh Singh Kushwaha, who represented Ziradei Assembly constituency falling within Siwan Lok Sabha constituency.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bihar/garden-doesnt-lose-splendour-over-few-wilted-flowers-kushwaha-on-jdu-inducting-rlm-leader-2950010|title=Garden doesn't lose splendour over few wilted flowers': Kushwaha on JD(U) inducting RLM leader |website=Deccan Herald|accessdate=4 June 2024}}
Political career
She was picked up by Nitish Kumar in 2024, when her husband Ramesh Singh Kushwaha, an erstwhile member of Janata Dal (United) was working with former union minister Upendra Kushwaha as the state chief of latter's Rashtriya Lok Morcha. Kumar inducted both her and her husband into the JDU once again and she was made a candidate for Lok Sabha election, replacing incumbent Kavita Singh.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/kushwaha-relents-as-jdu-fields-vijaya-from-siwan/articleshow/108758213.cms|title=Kushwaha relents as JDU fielded Vijaya from Siwan|website=Times of India|date=25 March 2024 |accessdate=5 June 2024|archive-date=4 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504235051/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/kushwaha-relents-as-jdu-fields-vijaya-from-siwan/articleshow/108758213.cms|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nitish-kumar-re-inducts-former-legislator-ramesh-kushwaha-into-his-party-5296594|website=NDTV|title=Nitish reinducted Kushwaha into the party|access-date=2024-06-05|archive-date=2024-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527022858/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nitish-kumar-re-inducts-former-legislator-ramesh-kushwaha-into-his-party-5296594|url-status=live}}
In her election affidavit, she declares that she is a partner in a company named Kunal constructions.{{cite web|url=https://www.myneta.info/LokSabha2024/candidate.php?candidate_id=8120|title=Vijay Lakshmi Kushwaha|website=My neta|accessdate=5 June 2024}}
During her election campaign, it was reported that she might not get the support of a section of Forward Castes in Siwan as her husband was associated with Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation in the early part of his life and CPI-ML was in conflict with the landed section of Forward Castes in the region. In this tussle, Shahabuddin emerged as their saviour and it was presumed that the Forward Caste will vote for Shahabuddin's wife, Hena Shahab who was contesting as an independent candidate from the constituency in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/shahabuddin-gone-wife-hena-breaks-free-of-his-party-in-comeback-bid-101716221094302.html|title=Shahabuddin gone his wife Hena breaks free of his party in comeback bid|website=Hindustan Times|accessdate=5 June 2024|archive-date=3 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603231326/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/shahabuddin-gone-wife-hena-breaks-free-of-his-party-in-comeback-bid-101716221094302.html|url-status=live}}
Amidst speculation that sitting MP Kavita Singh will also lay claim on the Siwan seat after JDU replaced her to make Vijaylakshmi as their candidate, Singh along with her husband Ajay Singh announced their support in the favor of Vijaylakshmi.{{cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/siwan/news/kavita-singh-support-to-vijay-lakshmi-kushwaha-132791967.html|title=विजय लक्ष्मी कुशवाहा को कविता का समर्थन:2019 में राजद को हराने वाली कविता बोलीं-हम इनके साथ, मंदिर में की एक साथ पूजा|website=Bhaskar|accessdate=5 June 2024|archive-date=10 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410040654/https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/siwan/news/kavita-singh-support-to-vijay-lakshmi-kushwaha-132791967.html|url-status=live}}
On 4 June 2024, after the final counting of votes, she was declared the winner in the triangular contest involving Awadh Bihari Choudhary and Hena Shahab for Siwan Lok Sabha constituency.{{cite web|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/ConstituencywiseS0418.htm|title=Result 2024 Siwan|website=Election Commission of India|accessdate=4 June 2024|archive-date=5 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605110416/https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/ConstituencywiseS0418.htm|url-status=live}}
Personal life
She is registered as a voter in Ziradei Assembly constituency of Siwan and belongs to Koeri caste.{{cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/election-2024/bihar-loksabha-election/news/bihar-election-2024-winner-candidates-caste-details-yadav-rajput-lalu-tejashwi-bjp-133124185.html|title= बिहार में यादव और राजपूत सांसद सबसे ज्यादा लालू के कुशवाहा कार्ड की लाज माले ने बचाई; जानिए अपने सांसदों की जाति|website=Bhaskar|accessdate=5 June 2024}}