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Ajay Uprety
Ajay Uprety

LUCKNOW

Who is Manoj Sinha, the main contender for UP CM post?

PTI3_16_2017_000108A Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (in middle) with Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (left) and MoS for Railways Manoj Sinha (in yellow) at Parliament House in New Delhi on Thursday | PTI

What puts Sinha ahead of other contenders is his hard working nature, clean image and long experience in politics

  • For seven years, from 1989 to 1996, Sinha remained in the BJP’s national council. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while appointing his first cabinet in 2014, made Sinha the railway minister. In the second expansion, he was appointed the minister of communication (independent charge)

In light of Home Minister Rajnath Singh's refusal to come to Uttar Pradesh, Union Minister Manoj Sinha is considered the front runner for the post of chief minister. Sinha, who hails from an upper caste background, has been in the good books of Prime Minister Narendra Modi—during a visit to Varanasi, the latter praised Sinha for his commitment and work ethic.

What puts Sinha ahead of other contenders is his hard working nature, clean image and long experience in politics. Sinha, who studied in BHU (Banaras Hindu University), was quite active in student politics, heading the union.

He was born on July 1 1959 in the eastern UP district of Gazipur and did masters in civil engineering from BHU before joining politics.

Sinha had all the markings of a brilliant politician since the beginning—he had become the president of the BHU students' union in 1982. He made his debut in the Lok Sabha from Gazipur in 1996. He won the parliamentary elections again in 1999. This is his third tenure as MP.

For seven years, from 1989 to 1996, Sinha remained in the BJP’s national council. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while appointing his first cabinet in 2014, made Sinha the railway minister. In the second expansion, he was appointed the minister of communication (independent charge).

A hard worker who maintained a low profile, Sinha is regarded as one of the best performing MPs in the house. He has been hailed for his active participation in the proceedings of the house and asking relevant questions of public interest. He has been adjudged as one of the seven most honest MPs in the country.

He has been a member of the general council and school of planning from 1999-2000. He has also been a member of committees on energy and government assurances.

Sinha represents Lok Sabha constituency of Gazipur and is equally popular with Hindu and Muslim voters there.

Apart from politics, agriculture and travelling are his two passions, which he pursues in leisure hours. He married Neelam Sinha in 1977. He has a son and a daughter.

Sinha’s work as railway minister was hailed from several quarters—he stood for improving facilities of railways and worked for the expansion of Cantonment station in Varanasi for which he announced a package of Rs 250 crore.

Though has ruled out his name in the race, what makes him a strong contender for the post is his good relationship with BJP’s top brass like Amit Shah, Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh and others. He also enjoys a good rapport with the RSS.

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