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<p><span><strong>Selvaraj V.</strong></span></p><p><em>63 | CPI | Nagapattinam (SC), Tamil Nadu</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="8840cdf7-23dd-4a3d-accc-035c06026bd3" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <amp-img src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Findiatoday%2Fstyles%2Fmedium_crop_simple%2Fpublic%2F2024-07%2Fgrassroots-2-selvaraj.jpg%3FVersionId%3DN98E5g0vgFki22CEjCIQTJaZolOU_Jet%5Cu0026size%3D750:*" alt="" height="638" width="770" class="image-style-medium-crop-simple" layout="responsive"></amp-img>


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</div></p><p>As CPI leader Selvaraj puts it, Nagapatt&shy;inam comes at the &ldquo;tail end&rdquo; for water from the Cauvery river, shorthand for the farmers&rsquo; distress over the lack of it for irrigation or even the dearth of state support for fishermen going out to sea. This was the first Lok Sabha election for Selvaraj, who has been a loyal soldier of the country&rsquo;s oldest Communist party for over four decades now. The party chose to place its faith in their Tiruvarur district secretary since four-time MP from here and his namesake, M. Selvaraj, had been ailing for a while (he passed away on May 13). The new MP won by over 200,000 votes and he will be hoping to repay the people&rsquo;s faith in Parliament.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Shashank Mani Tripathi</strong></span></p><div class="itemcenter"><amp-iframe height="62" title="" width="320" sandbox="allow-forms allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-top-navigation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" allowfullscreen src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Findiatoday%2Fbanner%2Fpreferred-source-new.html%3Fv%3D1.014%5Cu0026native%3D1" class="mrBt15 preferred-source-banner"> </amp-iframe></div></p><p><em>54 | BJP | Deoria, UP</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="af48eade-1467-43a9-bf65-979b5239b1da" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>An IIT Delhi graduate and son of the late Lt General and former MP of Deoria, Prakash Mani Tripathi, Shashank started with the non-profit, Jagriti Yatra, in 2008 to promote entrepreneurship in the Purvanchal (eastern UP) region, including Deoria, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur and Maharajganj regions. He&rsquo;s also been an integral part of the central Swavlambi Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) scheme, which again goes back to his core beliefs of encouraging awareness about start-ups, self-sufficiency and jobs crea&shy;tion. The Jagriti Enterprise Center Purvanchal has its head office in his ancestral village of Barpar in Deoria. Shashank has also authored three books including India: A Journey Through a Healing Civilization. He defeated the Congress&rsquo;s Akhilesh Pratap Singh by close to 35,000 votes.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Sachithanantham R.</strong></span></p><p><em>54 | CPI(M) | Dindigul, Tamil Nadu</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="e74424f3-e3c5-456f-99ea-2fd7f0406f54" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>The Dindigul district unit secretary since 2018, the Marxist leader is a three-decade veteran in championing the cause of farmers. He has led agitations across the state, demanding remunerative prices for crops and better wages for farm workers, as well as protests for increased water supply for irrigation. The CPI(M) leader defeated the AIADMK&rsquo;s Mohamed Mubarak M.A. by a margin of over 400,000 votes. He says his major focus will be MSP for all farm produce and reviving the sick spinning mills in Dindigul.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Umeshbhai Patel</strong></span></p><p><em>48 | Independent | Daman & Diu (ST)</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="681d4923-05f3-4101-bb6b-6e33a4e76ed2" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>An Arts graduate, Umeshbhai first shot into the limelight in 2017 when he led the protest against a Gujarat High Court proposal to merge Daman and Diu with neighbouring Gujarat, for better implementation of the latter&rsquo;s prohibition laws (because of people from the state crossing over to the UT to quench their &lsquo;thirst&rsquo;). Umeshbhai runs various organisations that are engaged in social work in the UT, such as the Daman Youth Action Force and the Swami Vivekanand Vidhyalay. This was his second attempt at entering Parliament and he defeated three-time BJP MP Lalubhai Patel by a margin of 6,225 votes. The Independent candidate reportedly ran a frugal campaign, canvassing with a few friends or his wife and daughter. He has said he will work for the development of Daman and Diu, as the UT has been allegedly ignored by the major parties.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Kunduru Raghuveer</strong></span></p><p><em>44 | Congress | Nalgonda, Telangana</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="927f8609-a912-434f-8eb2-adcd5ad350df" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>A social activist working for orphaned children, he has set a record for victory margins in Nalgonda, defeating the BJP&rsquo;s Saidi Reddy Shanampudi by 5,59,905 votes.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Tharaniventhan M.S.</strong></span></p><p><em>59 | DMK | Arani, TN</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="f88a32cb-c6c3-473d-aad1-a41574817b3f" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>Has moved up the party rungs since the days he was enlisted as a member way back in 1979. Rallied farmers and farm workers in protests for better prices for produce, apart from demanding improved irrigation facilities. Defeated the AIADMK&rsquo;S Gajendran G.V.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Matheswaran V.S.</strong></span></p><p><em>52 | DMK | Namakkal, TN</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="f45963a0-1766-4d8b-8918-0ae1ada9cec2" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>Matheswaran has in the past highlighted issues faced by those residing in the Senthamangalam panchayat area and served as the Senthamangalam panchayat union vice-chairman. Defeated the AIADMK&rsquo;s Tamilmani S.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma</strong></span></p><p><em>56 | BJP | Narsapuram, Andhra Pradesh</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="e882032e-031b-46ee-9a9e-a49836346c8b" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>A former activist of the CPI&rsquo;s All India Students Federation, he was part of the ABVP and the RSS, before enlisting in the BJP. Has helped the party mobilise mass protests on various iss&shy;ues. Defeated the YSRCP&rsquo;s Umabala Guduri.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Ajendra Singh Lodhi</strong></span></p><p><em>53 | SP | Hamirpur, UP</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="e33c56b7-f8d7-4599-871d-fd1c7ffef57a" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>A grassroots OBC leader from the Bundelkhand belt, he&rsquo;s been effective in building up the SP cadre in Hamirpur. Defeated the BJP&rsquo;s Pushpendra Singh Chandel.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Devesh Shakya</strong></span></p><p><em>43 | SP | Etah, UP</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="c699a69d-8242-485e-91ac-101bd8f4c357" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>Devesh defeated the BJP&rsquo;s two-time Etah MP Rajveer Singh, son of the late Uttar Pradesh chief minister and veteran Lodh leader Kalyan Singh. A law graduate and non-Yadav OBC leader, he is also considered as someone with grassroots connections in the Etah belt. Devesh has also been successful in aligning the non-Yadav OBCs—especially the Shakya voters (part of the larger Kushwaha community) who are considered important in the Etah belt—with the SP, which was probably why Akhilesh handed him the poll ticket.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Rajkumar Sangwan</strong></span></p><p><em>64 | RLD | Baghpat, UP</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="9feb66e5-28a3-410c-9ef0-78a4d89f174e" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>The senior RLD spokesperson is considered close to party chairman Jayant Chaudhary&rsquo;s family and has served in various key positions. He has also focussed on building the party's cadre base in west UP. A PhD in philosophy, he defeated the SP&rsquo;s Amarpal.</p><hr></p><p><span><strong>Sanatan Pandey</strong></span></p><p><em>61 | SP | Ballia, UP</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="532541e9-58f9-41c6-b76a-c031afaa1fe8" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>Considered a trusted aide of the late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, he won the 2007 UP assembly polls from Chilkahar before unsuccessfully contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. He has retained grassroots connect, which is believed to have worked in his favour. He defeated the BJP&rsquo;s Neeraj Shekhar, son of the late PM Chandra Shekhar in the family&rsquo;s home bastion.</p><p><em>—By Amarnath K. Menon, Prashant Srivastava and Jumana Shah</em></p><div id="lrcmtcont"></div><div class="end_story">- Ends</div><div class="dottedimg"></div><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Shyam Balasubramanian</div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Jul 13, 2024</div></div></div><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div id="tab-video-wrapper-plugin"><div class="end_story_embed_label">Must Watch</div><amp-iframe height="365" title="" width="648" layout="responsive" sandbox="allow-forms allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-top-navigation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" allowfullscreen src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fembed.indiatoday.in%2Fshare%2Fvideo%2Findia%2Fvideo%2FMjU2MTA2Nw%3D%3D%3Fnative%3Dend" class="mrBt15"> </amp-iframe></div></div>

cover-story

Cover Story

18th Lok Sabha: The Debutants

<p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Selvaraj V.</strong></span></p><p><em>63 | CPI | Nagapattinam (SC), Tamil Nadu</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="8840cdf7-23dd-4a3d-accc-035c06026bd3" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <div class="itgimage"><img  height="638"  title=""  width="770"  class="image-style-medium-crop-simple" alt="" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Findiatoday%2Fstyles%2Fmedium_crop_simple%2Fpublic%2F2024-07%2Fgrassroots-2-selvaraj.jpg%3FVersionId%3DN98E5g0vgFki22CEjCIQTJaZolOU_Jet%5Cu0026size%3D750:*" loading="lazy" /></div>


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</div></p><p>As CPI leader Selvaraj puts it, Nagapatt&shy;inam comes at the &ldquo;tail end&rdquo; for water from the Cauvery river, shorthand for the farmers&rsquo; distress over the lack of it for irrigation or even the dearth of state support for fishermen going out to sea. This was the first Lok Sabha election for Selvaraj, who has been a loyal soldier of the country&rsquo;s oldest Communist party for over four decades now. The party chose to place its faith in their Tiruvarur district secretary since four-time MP from here and his namesake, M. Selvaraj, had been ailing for a while (he passed away on May 13). The new MP won by over 200,000 votes and he will be hoping to repay the people&rsquo;s faith in Parliament.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Shashank Mani Tripathi</strong></span></p><div class="itemcenter"><iframe scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="62" awidth="320" aheight="62" amplayout="fixed" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Findiatoday%2Fbanner%2Fpreferred-source-new.html%3Fv%3D1.014" class="preferred-source-banner" loading="lazy"></iframe></div><style>.preferred-source-banner{  margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}</style></p><p><em>54 | BJP | Deoria, UP</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="af48eade-1467-43a9-bf65-979b5239b1da" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>An IIT Delhi graduate and son of the late Lt General and former MP of Deoria, Prakash Mani Tripathi, Shashank started with the non-profit, Jagriti Yatra, in 2008 to promote entrepreneurship in the Purvanchal (eastern UP) region, including Deoria, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur and Maharajganj regions. He&rsquo;s also been an integral part of the central Swavlambi Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) scheme, which again goes back to his core beliefs of encouraging awareness about start-ups, self-sufficiency and jobs crea&shy;tion. The Jagriti Enterprise Center Purvanchal has its head office in his ancestral village of Barpar in Deoria. Shashank has also authored three books including India: A Journey Through a Healing Civilization. He defeated the Congress&rsquo;s Akhilesh Pratap Singh by close to 35,000 votes.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Sachithanantham R.</strong></span></p><p><em>54 | CPI(M) | Dindigul, Tamil Nadu</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="e74424f3-e3c5-456f-99ea-2fd7f0406f54" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <div class="itgimage"><img  height="521"  title=""  width="770"  class="image-style-medium-crop-simple" alt="" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Findiatoday%2Fstyles%2Fmedium_crop_simple%2Fpublic%2F2024-07%2Fgrassroots-3-sachithanantham.jpg%3FVersionId%3Dl72al93RcXHe.MMaj3hdPb5EOOP6JWFo%5Cu0026size%3D750:*" loading="lazy" /></div>


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</div></p><p>The Dindigul district unit secretary since 2018, the Marxist leader is a three-decade veteran in championing the cause of farmers. He has led agitations across the state, demanding remunerative prices for crops and better wages for farm workers, as well as protests for increased water supply for irrigation. The CPI(M) leader defeated the AIADMK&rsquo;s Mohamed Mubarak M.A. by a margin of over 400,000 votes. He says his major focus will be MSP for all farm produce and reviving the sick spinning mills in Dindigul.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Umeshbhai Patel</strong></span></p><p><em>48 | Independent | Daman & Diu (ST)</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="681d4923-05f3-4101-bb6b-6e33a4e76ed2" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <div class="itgimage"><img  height="500"  title=""  width="770"  class="image-style-medium-crop-simple" alt="" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Findiatoday%2Fstyles%2Fmedium_crop_simple%2Fpublic%2F2024-07%2Fgrassroots-5-umeshbhai.jpg%3FVersionId%3DPMpbAyNs2dJHatTtIiHVInoT3LghKZKI%5Cu0026size%3D750:*" loading="lazy" /></div>


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</div></p><p>An Arts graduate, Umeshbhai first shot into the limelight in 2017 when he led the protest against a Gujarat High Court proposal to merge Daman and Diu with neighbouring Gujarat, for better implementation of the latter&rsquo;s prohibition laws (because of people from the state crossing over to the UT to quench their &lsquo;thirst&rsquo;). Umeshbhai runs various organisations that are engaged in social work in the UT, such as the Daman Youth Action Force and the Swami Vivekanand Vidhyalay. This was his second attempt at entering Parliament and he defeated three-time BJP MP Lalubhai Patel by a margin of 6,225 votes. The Independent candidate reportedly ran a frugal campaign, canvassing with a few friends or his wife and daughter. He has said he will work for the development of Daman and Diu, as the UT has been allegedly ignored by the major parties.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Kunduru Raghuveer</strong></span></p><p><em>44 | Congress | Nalgonda, Telangana</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="927f8609-a912-434f-8eb2-adcd5ad350df" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <div class="itgimage"><img  height="489"  title=""  width="770"  class="image-style-medium-crop-simple" alt="" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Findiatoday%2Fstyles%2Fmedium_crop_simple%2Fpublic%2F2024-07%2Fgrassroots-6-kunduru.jpg%3FVersionId%3D3uTX768Kt4naPD906kV28WLlLoIuovZ9%5Cu0026size%3D750:*" loading="lazy" /></div>


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</div></p><p>A social activist working for orphaned children, he has set a record for victory margins in Nalgonda, defeating the BJP&rsquo;s Saidi Reddy Shanampudi by 5,59,905 votes.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Tharaniventhan M.S.</strong></span></p><p><em>59 | DMK | Arani, TN</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="f88a32cb-c6c3-473d-aad1-a41574817b3f" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>Has moved up the party rungs since the days he was enlisted as a member way back in 1979. Rallied farmers and farm workers in protests for better prices for produce, apart from demanding improved irrigation facilities. Defeated the AIADMK&rsquo;S Gajendran G.V.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Matheswaran V.S.</strong></span></p><p><em>52 | DMK | Namakkal, TN</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="f45963a0-1766-4d8b-8918-0ae1ada9cec2" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>Matheswaran has in the past highlighted issues faced by those residing in the Senthamangalam panchayat area and served as the Senthamangalam panchayat union vice-chairman. Defeated the AIADMK&rsquo;s Tamilmani S.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma</strong></span></p><p><em>56 | BJP | Narsapuram, Andhra Pradesh</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="e882032e-031b-46ee-9a9e-a49836346c8b" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>A former activist of the CPI&rsquo;s All India Students Federation, he was part of the ABVP and the RSS, before enlisting in the BJP. Has helped the party mobilise mass protests on various iss&shy;ues. Defeated the YSRCP&rsquo;s Umabala Guduri.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Ajendra Singh Lodhi</strong></span></p><p><em>53 | SP | Hamirpur, UP</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="e33c56b7-f8d7-4599-871d-fd1c7ffef57a" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>A grassroots OBC leader from the Bundelkhand belt, he&rsquo;s been effective in building up the SP cadre in Hamirpur. Defeated the BJP&rsquo;s Pushpendra Singh Chandel.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Devesh Shakya</strong></span></p><p><em>43 | SP | Etah, UP</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="c699a69d-8242-485e-91ac-101bd8f4c357" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>Devesh defeated the BJP&rsquo;s two-time Etah MP Rajveer Singh, son of the late Uttar Pradesh chief minister and veteran Lodh leader Kalyan Singh. A law graduate and non-Yadav OBC leader, he is also considered as someone with grassroots connections in the Etah belt. Devesh has also been successful in aligning the non-Yadav OBCs—especially the Shakya voters (part of the larger Kushwaha community) who are considered important in the Etah belt—with the SP, which was probably why Akhilesh handed him the poll ticket.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Rajkumar Sangwan</strong></span></p><p><em>64 | RLD | Baghpat, UP</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="9feb66e5-28a3-410c-9ef0-78a4d89f174e" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
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</div></p><p>The senior RLD spokesperson is considered close to party chairman Jayant Chaudhary&rsquo;s family and has served in various key positions. He has also focussed on building the party's cadre base in west UP. A PhD in philosophy, he defeated the SP&rsquo;s Amarpal.</p><hr></p><p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Sanatan Pandey</strong></span></p><p><em>61 | SP | Ballia, UP</em></p><div data-embed-button="ckeditor_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.image" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="532541e9-58f9-41c6-b76a-c031afaa1fe8" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"><article class="media media--type-ckeditor-image media--view-mode-image">
  
      
            <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item">  <div class="itgimage"><img  height="534"  title=""  width="770"  class="image-style-medium-crop-simple" alt="" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Findiatoday%2Fstyles%2Fmedium_crop_simple%2Fpublic%2F2024-07%2Fgrassroots-13-sanatan.jpg%3FVersionId%3D_ntOtWAFQ8zfPXED6sOv2x5BXnzBj4uq%5Cu0026size%3D750:*" loading="lazy" /></div>


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</div></p><p>Considered a trusted aide of the late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, he won the 2007 UP assembly polls from Chilkahar before unsuccessfully contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. He has retained grassroots connect, which is believed to have worked in his favour. He defeated the BJP&rsquo;s Neeraj Shekhar, son of the late PM Chandra Shekhar in the family&rsquo;s home bastion.</p><p><em>—By Amarnath K. Menon, Prashant Srivastava and Jumana Shah</em></p><div id="lrcmtcont"></div><div class="end_story">- Ends</div><div class="dottedimg"></div><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Shyam Balasubramanian</div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Jul 13, 2024</div></div></div><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div id="tab-video-wrapper-plugin"><div class="end_story_embed_label">Must Watch</div><iframe  height="365"  title=""  width="648"  layout="responsive" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-top-navigation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" allowfullscreen scrolling="no" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fembed.indiatoday.in%2Fshare%2Fvideo%2Findia%2Fvideo%2FMjU2MTA2Nw%3D%3D%3Fnative%3D1" loading="lazy" class="multy-video-iframe" > </iframe></div></div>

From raising farmers' issues to rural jobs creation and MSP, these sons of the soil are aiming for change in Parliament

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Grassroots workers | Rooted in the masses - India Today

Grassroots workers | Rooted in the masses

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Grassroots workers | Rooted in the masses

From raising farmers' issues to rural jobs creation and MSP, these sons of the soil are aiming for change in Parliament

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