Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi: An unlikely politician who lives in a mud house

[Fire0007]

 

Pratap Chandra Sarangi is an unlikely politician. A bachelor who lives in a thatched house, rides a bicycle and leads a simple life, the 64-year-old MP from Balasore took oath on Thursday as a minister of state in the Modi government.

Sarangi defeated two high-profile candidates in Balasore - outgoing BJD MP and industrialist Rabindra Jena, as well as Nabajyoti Patnaik, son of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Nirajan Patnaik. Both were also among the state's richest MP candidates. He became MLA twice from Nilgiri in 2004 and 2009. He had also contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Balasore constituency but was defeated.

The Brahmin Sarangi, who calls himself a footsoldier of Modi, attributes his victory to his commitment, integrity and simplicity. Fondly called 'Nana' and revered like an older brother, he was the state president of Bajrang Dal. In the Eighties, he had started many Ekal Vidyalayas (village schools with a single local teacher) in the interiors of the state. These single-teacher schools, which take in students up to Class III or V, are run by the educated youth of the concerned villages. The teachers' salary is collected by the villagers.

Sarangi has been living alone ever since his mother passed away last year but his humble house is invariably crowded with supporters. Always seen in a pair of white cotton kurta-pyjamas, Sarangi's campaigning style was also markedly different. While his contestants had a fleet of SUVs to traverse the constituency and hired professional campaign managers and election management agencies, Sarangi conducted auto-rickshaw rallies. Even after his electoral victories, Sarangi continues to live in a mud and bamboo house. He has dedicated his life to social work and uplift of the poor and lives like a monk.

[Edhokati]

has 7 criminal cases pending: -Rioting & assault charges during tenure as MLA -Promoting enmity btwn religious grps during term as Bajrang Dal state convener

 

 

Arrested after an attack on the Odisha assembly by right-wing groups, including the Bajrang Dal in 2002, Mr Sarangi, 64, faces charges of rioting, arson assault and damaging government property. He had also been a leader of the Bajrang Dal when a mob brutally killed Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines and his two children in 1999.

 

He also firmly denied any link to the Graham Staines case.

[Tadika]

12 hours ago, Edhokati said:

has 7 criminal cases pending: -Rioting & assault charges during tenure as MLA -Promoting enmity btwn religious grps during term as Bajrang Dal state convener

 

 

Arrested after an attack on the Odisha assembly by right-wing groups, including the Bajrang Dal in 2002, Mr Sarangi, 64, faces charges of rioting, arson assault and damaging government property. He had also been a leader of the Bajrang Dal when a mob brutally killed Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines and his two children in 1999.

 

He also firmly denied any link to the Graham Staines case.

aythe qualify to ministry next CM eedu

[jpismahatma]

12 hours ago, Edhokati said:

has 7 criminal cases pending: -Rioting & assault charges during tenure as MLA -Promoting enmity btwn religious grps during term as Bajrang Dal state convener

 

 

Arrested after an attack on the Odisha assembly by right-wing groups, including the Bajrang Dal in 2002, Mr Sarangi, 64, faces charges of rioting, arson assault and damaging government property. He had also been a leader of the Bajrang Dal when a mob brutally killed Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines and his two children in 1999.

 

He also firmly denied any link to the Graham Staines case.

aithe oka group head ga unte... vadi hand undhi ani decide chesa se sara..

[Edhokati]

4 hours ago, jpismahatma said:

aithe oka group head ga unte... vadi hand undhi ani decide chesa se sara..

No hand.

may be head