Lok Sabha elections: Mulayam Singh Yadav’s ex-security officer banks on nationalism to win Agra for BJP

  • | Sunday | 24th March, 2019

In 1996, I was offered ticket from BSP, and later in 1998, SP gave me a ticket to contest the 12th Lok Sabha election from Jalesar. A former local intelligence unit sleuth, Baghel has also served as a security officer of Mulayam Singh Yadav briefly. After another Rajya Sabha member from BSP in 2009, Baghel joined BJP, won the 2017 assembly polls from Tundla and is currently a state cabinet minister. AGRA: When Narendra Modi became the chief minister of Gujarat in 2001, SP Singh Baghel, 60, was already serving his second term as Samajwadi Party MP from Jalesar. In the same year, he was made the state president of Samajwadi Party’s youth brigade.“During my higher studies, I joined students’ politics.

AGRA: When Narendra Modi became the chief minister of Gujarat in 2001, SP Singh Baghel, 60, was already serving his second term as Samajwadi Party MP from Jalesar. He was elected again in 2004. A former local intelligence unit sleuth, Baghel has also served as a security officer of Mulayam Singh Yadav briefly. After another Rajya Sabha member from BSP in 2009, Baghel joined BJP, won the 2017 assembly polls from Tundla and is currently a state cabinet minister. He is the BJP’s pick from the crucial Agra seat replacing national SC panel chief Ram Shankar Katheria.“Back then elections were fought over the demands of drainage constructions, street light installation, road constructions and other basic amenities, but in 2019, voters are more focused on nationalism,” Baghel told TOI.“Apart from development issues, candidate’s eligibility and party’s ideology, today’s voter also judges a candidate on a fourth parameter, which is being ‘pro-country’. If there is no country, what would you do with roads or electricity,” Baghel, who has a doctorate in military science, asked.Before joining politics, Baghel was a local intelligence unit sleuth in Meerut police. He joined UP Police as a sub-inspector after completing his MSc. He later served as a security officer of Mulayam Singh Yadav for a brief period in Lucknow.After voluntary retirement from the police force in 1993, Baghel was commissioned as a lecturer in Agra College after he cleared the higher education service exam. In the same year, he was made the state president of Samajwadi Party’s youth brigade.“During my higher studies, I joined students’ politics. In 1996, I was offered ticket from BSP, and later in 1998, SP gave me a ticket to contest the 12th Lok Sabha election from Jalesar. I won that election and continued as MP till 14th LS from the same constituency from Samajwadi Party,” Baghel said.After another Rajya Sabha term from BSP in 2010-2016, Baghel joined BJP, won the 2017 assembly polls from Tundla and is currently a state cabinet minister.“Today’s India is a changed country, which has much better and firm decision-making capability. This only comes when there is a complete majority supported by the countrymen. Those days are gone, when votes were cast on the basis of caste, gotra etc. Present voters, especially youngsters, talk about national, foreign, environment and education policies. They want to know, as a candidate, how you can make India strong,” Baghel said.Baghel’s family hails from Auraiya district. He enjoys popular support from the Baghel community, but has a case pending against him for allegedly using a ‘false’ caste certificate in his affidavit for the election.Baghel is now going to contest Lok Sabha election from Agra which is a reserved seat. Asked about the caste controversy, Baghel said, “The matter is sub-judice.”

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

NYOOOZ FRIEND

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.


Stay updated with all the Agra Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.

Related Articles