PTIBJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh - who is in the eye of a storm over charges of sexual harassment levelled by the country's international wrestlers - has always been in the thick of controversies since he entered politics in early 1990s.
Identified as a Bahubali politician from northeastern Uttar Pradesh, the 66-year-old wrestler-politician has faced several serious allegations, including attempt to murder. Even his election as WFI president in 2012 was mired in controversies. He had defeated Deepender Singh Hooda, whose father Bhupender Hooda was then Haryana chief minister, in a re-election.
Sharan Singh's supporters now claim that the charges levelled against him by wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and others are part of a "deep conspiracy" by the Haryana lobby, saying most of these wrestlers are from Haryana.
POLITICAL BEGINNING: He entered politics under Raja Anand Singh who was elected Gonda MP four times, but fell out with him and joined the Ram temple movement in 1989. He was elected as Lok Sabha MP in 1991 from Gonda. In 1999, he won again from Gonda but moved to Balrampur in 2004. Due to differences with BJP, he joined Samajwadi Party in 2008 and won from Kaiserganj. After the emergence of Narendra Modi on the national scene and the surge in BJP's support, he returned to the saffron fold in 2014. He has represented BJP in Lok Sabha from Kaiserganj since 2014.
AS LS MP: Though Sharan Singh occupies one of the front rows in Lok Sabha as he is in his sixth term as MP, he is not very active in debates. However, he aggressively backs BJP whenever there is a verbal confrontation with the opposition. He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj as well as the consultative committee of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
His writ runs large in four districts of Uttar Pradesh - Balrampur, Gonda, Bahraich and Shravasti. He has a strong hold over the politics in the region and backs candidates close to him to the hilt in polls, from the panchayat level to the Lok Sabha.
FOCUS ON EDUCATION: He has built over 50 educational institutions, which not only generate substantial revenue for him but also cater to the needs of children of the four districts that has earned him goodwill of the locals. He established the first Mahavidyala in Nandininagar, Gonda, and his empire proliferated from there.
Sharan Singh owns a palatial home in his constituency and a helipad built near it is exclusively for his use.
He has faced several criminal charges. In the 1990s, TADA was slapped on him for allegedly sheltering Dawood Ibrahim's gang members Subash Thakur, Jayendra Thakur and Paresh Desai, but was cleared of the charges later.
On Vinesh Phogat: After Vinesh Phogat lost in Tokyo Olympics in 2020, he called her "khota sikka (fake coin)".
ON RAMDEV: He had also slammed Baba Ramdev for "misusing" the name of Patanjali, the ayurveda expert who is said to have been a native of Gonda district. He had alleged Ramdev was selling substandard goods under the Patanjali brand name, bringing disrepute to the great expert.
ON Raj Thackeray: When Thackeray wanted to have a darshan at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Sharan Singh had announced that he will be allowed to do so only after he apologised for his remarks against north Indians working in Mumbai. He had mobilised around one lakh people in Ayodhya to prevent Raj Thackeray from entering, and his supporters had booked all hotels. Thackeray had to cancel the visit.
People close to Sharan Singh maintain that he is disciplined in his daily routine.
RESPECT FOR MSY: Sharan Singh and Ballia MP Virendra Singh Mast were two BJP MPs who would see off Mulayam Singh Yadav till Gate 1 of Parliament when the latter would leave for the day.
Identified as a Bahubali politician from northeastern Uttar Pradesh, the 66-year-old wrestler-politician has faced several serious allegations, including attempt to murder. Even his election as WFI president in 2012 was mired in controversies. He had defeated Deepender Singh Hooda, whose father Bhupender Hooda was then Haryana chief minister, in a re-election.
Sharan Singh's supporters now claim that the charges levelled against him by wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and others are part of a "deep conspiracy" by the Haryana lobby, saying most of these wrestlers are from Haryana.
POLITICAL BEGINNING: He entered politics under Raja Anand Singh who was elected Gonda MP four times, but fell out with him and joined the Ram temple movement in 1989. He was elected as Lok Sabha MP in 1991 from Gonda. In 1999, he won again from Gonda but moved to Balrampur in 2004. Due to differences with BJP, he joined Samajwadi Party in 2008 and won from Kaiserganj. After the emergence of Narendra Modi on the national scene and the surge in BJP's support, he returned to the saffron fold in 2014. He has represented BJP in Lok Sabha from Kaiserganj since 2014.
AS LS MP: Though Sharan Singh occupies one of the front rows in Lok Sabha as he is in his sixth term as MP, he is not very active in debates. However, he aggressively backs BJP whenever there is a verbal confrontation with the opposition. He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj as well as the consultative committee of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
His writ runs large in four districts of Uttar Pradesh - Balrampur, Gonda, Bahraich and Shravasti. He has a strong hold over the politics in the region and backs candidates close to him to the hilt in polls, from the panchayat level to the Lok Sabha.
FOCUS ON EDUCATION: He has built over 50 educational institutions, which not only generate substantial revenue for him but also cater to the needs of children of the four districts that has earned him goodwill of the locals. He established the first Mahavidyala in Nandininagar, Gonda, and his empire proliferated from there.
Sharan Singh owns a palatial home in his constituency and a helipad built near it is exclusively for his use.
He has faced several criminal charges. In the 1990s, TADA was slapped on him for allegedly sheltering Dawood Ibrahim's gang members Subash Thakur, Jayendra Thakur and Paresh Desai, but was cleared of the charges later.
On Vinesh Phogat: After Vinesh Phogat lost in Tokyo Olympics in 2020, he called her "khota sikka (fake coin)".
ON RAMDEV: He had also slammed Baba Ramdev for "misusing" the name of Patanjali, the ayurveda expert who is said to have been a native of Gonda district. He had alleged Ramdev was selling substandard goods under the Patanjali brand name, bringing disrepute to the great expert.
ON Raj Thackeray: When Thackeray wanted to have a darshan at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Sharan Singh had announced that he will be allowed to do so only after he apologised for his remarks against north Indians working in Mumbai. He had mobilised around one lakh people in Ayodhya to prevent Raj Thackeray from entering, and his supporters had booked all hotels. Thackeray had to cancel the visit.
People close to Sharan Singh maintain that he is disciplined in his daily routine.
RESPECT FOR MSY: Sharan Singh and Ballia MP Virendra Singh Mast were two BJP MPs who would see off Mulayam Singh Yadav till Gate 1 of Parliament when the latter would leave for the day.
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