Naveen Jindal

Born in 1970 as the youngest son of industrialist Om Prakash Jindal, Naveen Jindal emerged as a significant business figure, not only in his native Haryana but across India. Known for his advocacy of women empowerment, he currently leads Jindal Steel and Power Limited and O P Jindal University. In recognition of his leadership potential, the World Economic Forum honoured him in 2006, ranking him among the top 25 Indians on its annual list of 250 global young leaders.

Entering the political arena as a member of the Congress party, Jindal represented the Kurukshetra constituency in the Lok Sabha for two consecutive terms, spanning from 2004 to 2014. Despite his earlier successes, he faced defeat in the 2014 national elections against Raj Kumar Saini of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)and was not nominated by the Congress in 2019.

Ahead of the 2024 general elections, he joined the BJP on 24th March 2024 to contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda of 'Viksit Bharat.' He will contest from the same constituency he ha represented before in the upcoing elections.

Jindal's interest in politics ignited during his university days, marked by active involvement in student movements and his presidency of the student union at the University of Texas. After completing his post-graduation in the United States, he returned to India to support his father in political endeavours. In 2004, Jindal contested and won the Lok Sabha elections from Kurukshetra, marking the onset of his impactful parliamentary career.

Noteworthy among his legislative contributions, Jindal championed a private member Bill for a comprehensive Food and Nutrition Security Scheme, which laid the groundwork for the Food Security Act. His relentless efforts led to a significant ruling by the Supreme Court of India in 2004, granting Indian citizens the right to fly the national flag on all days.

In 2009, Jindal founded the OP Jindal Global University, distinguishing itself with a remarkable 1:9 faculty-student ratio. The university's Jindal Global Law School stands among the world's top 100 law institutes and holds the premier position within the country. His contributions to education were further recognised when the University of Dallas, Texas, renamed its School of Management to the Naveen Jindal School of Management.

Despite his successes, Jindal has faced controversies, including allegations related to the 2012 Colgate scam and accusations of undue preferences in mining allocations to his companies.

Outside of his professional engagements, Jindal indulges in various hobbies including playing Polo, practising Yoga, reading, and travelling.