Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), represented the constituency of Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh as a Member of Parliament (MP). He also held the position of chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

He is known as 'Bahubali neta' (muscleman leader) due to his involvement in both caste and religious politics in Uttar Pradesh. He secured his first Lok Sabha seat from Gonda in 1991 under the BJP banner, marking the onset of his six-term tenure as an MP, with five terms representing the BJP and one representing the Samajwadi Party (SP).

In 1993, he initiated a public awareness campaign called "Matra Raksha Rath Yatra" to raise awareness about ISI activities in the country. He also led a movement against feudal land mafia and helped allocate land on lease to deserving and impoverished individuals. Additionally, he provided financial aid to needy families.

Singh's influence extends beyond politics; he is involved in various ventures, including owning colleges, a hotel, a shooting range, and a wrestling academy. These establishments serve as the foundation of Singh's political support base, operating independently of his party affiliation, with his family members actively participating in his business ventures.

Having been passionate about wrestling since his youth, Singh has been organiaing wrestling events in Gonda since the early days of his political career. He has a history of sponsoring junior and national championships, as well as traditional wrestling matches, contributing to the sporting culture of the region.

Since 2008, he has served as the President of the Uttar Pradesh Association. From 2008 to 2011, he held the position of Vice-President of the Wrestling Federation of India. Continuing his involvement in wrestling, he has been the President of the Wrestling Federation of India since 2011. Additionally, he holds the positions of President for the South Asian Wrestling Federation and the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association. Moreover, he serves as the Vice-President of the United World Wrestling- Asia.

In his early years, Singh was engaged in student politics and gained experience during the Ram temple movement. Despite facing legal allegations, including being implicated in the Babri Masjid demolition, he was acquitted of all charges in September 2020 after a lengthy legal process. Singh's alignment with the BJP was influenced by his association with Ashok Singhal, a prominent figure in the Vishva Hindu Parishad. During this period, he established Nandini Nagar College in Nawabganj, marking the expansion of his business interests.

In 2009, amidst a decline in the BJP's political fortunes, Singh switched allegiance to the Samajwadi Party, winning the Lok Sabha election from Kaiserganj. His appointment as president of the Wrestling Federation of India in 2011 was reportedly facilitated by Mulayam Singh Yadav, underscoring Singh's cross-party connections.

He finds solace in reading books that evoke national pride, as well as singing and listening to music. Additionally, he has a passion for writing poetry.

Singh's family is deeply entrenched in politics, with his wife Ketkidevi Singh winning an election from Gonda in 1996 when Singh himself couldn't contest due to legal issues. Ketkidevi currently serves as the president of the Gonda Zila Panchayat, while Singh's son, Prateek Bhushan Singh, holds an MLA position from Gonda Sadar.

The BJP drops him amid a sexual harassment charge and fields his younger son, Karan Bhushan Singh for the Kaiserganj seat in the 2024 general elections.

With a reported net worth of Rs 9,89,05,402 and facing four criminal cases, Singh remains a significant figure in Uttar Pradesh politics.