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Hanuman Beniwal
Indian politician (born 1972) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hanuman Beniwal (born 2 March 1972) is an Indian politician, farmer leader and founder of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), known for advocating the farmer rights and opposing corruption.[3][4] He is serving as Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Nagaur since 2019. He is president and national convener of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party. He has been elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly for four-terms from Khinvsar constituency since 2008. He is also a two term member of Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament from Nagaur.[5][6]
Born in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, he pursued Bachelor of Laws from University of Rajasthan. His political journey began in student politics as president of the Rajasthan University Student Union in 1997, later joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), before breaking away in 2013 to form Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) after accusing BJP leaders of corruption. Known for advocating farmer rights, he resigned from three parliamentary committees and broke ties with the BJP during 2020 farmers protest.[3][7]
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Early life and education
Beniwal was born on 2 March 1972 to Ramdev Beniwal and Mohini Devi in Barangaon village of Nagaur district in Rajasthan.[8] His father was a two term member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Mundwa constituency.[9] He belongs to Hindu Jat community.[10] He did Bachelor of Arts from University of Rajasthan in 1993 and then he obtained Bachelor of Laws in 1998.[11]
His younger brother Narayan Beniwal, is a former member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly representing Khinvsar constituency in Nagaur.[12]
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Early political career
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Beniwal began his political career as a student leader at Rajasthan University. In 1994, Beniwal was elected president of Maharaja College, Jaipur student union, a position he held again in 1995. Beniwal became president of the Law College, Jaipur in 1996.[13]
During the 1996 Rajasthan University student union elections, Beniwal and Mahendra Chaudhary opposed a proposed university shutdown by opposition student groups. In August 1996, a confrontation at the university gate led to a clash with police, resulting in a lathicharge and stone-pelting. Beniwal and over a dozen students were arrested and detained at Jaipur Central Jail. Concerned about potential student protests, Chief Minister Bhairo Singh Shekhawat ordered their release at 2 a.m., against standard jail procedures.[14]
In September 1997, following a gang rape at JC Bose Hostel, public outrage grew in Jaipur.[15] Beniwal led protests against the incident, gaining popularity among students. Despite a police lathicharge and an FIR naming him and others, Beniwal contested the 1997 Rajasthan University student union elections as an independent candidate and won.[16]
Five percent movement
During his tenure as student union president, Beniwal advocated for a five per cent bonus in marks for rural students during university admissions, addressing disparities in educational resources. After winning the 1997 Rajasthan university elections, Beniwal launched a movement for this cause, leading to clashes with police and his arrest during a dharna. He spent eight days in jail, but the movement succeeded, enabling 8,000 rural students to gain admission in the next session in Rajasthan University.[17]
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State politics (2008–present)
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Beniwal early activism in the student politics laid the foundation for his transition into mainstream politics.[13] In 2003, Beniwal contested his first Rajasthan Assembly election from the Mundwa constituency on an Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) ticket.[18] This constituency held personal significance, as it was previously represented by his father, Ramdev Beniwal, who was elected twice in 1977 and 1985. During the 2003 campaign, INLD leader and the then chief minister of Haryana, Om Prakash Chautala campaigned in Rajasthan to support Beniwal.[19] Despite securing 35,724 votes, Beniwal was defeated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. Beniwal got his maiden electoral success in the 2008 Rajasthan Assembly election from Khinwsar constituency on a BJP ticket.[20] In the early 2010s, tensions escalated between Beniwal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership in Rajasthan. Beniwal accused senior party members, including then-opposition leader Vasundhara Raje and Rajendra Rathore, of corruption, alleging they maintained illicit ties with Congress chief minister Ashok Gehlot.[21] These allegations were made during a period of internal BJP factionalism in Rajasthan ahead of the 2013 state elections. The BJP leadership deemed Beniwal’s statements as act of indiscipline, leading to his suspension and eventual expulsion from the Bharatiya Janata Party. No independent investigation substantiated Beniwal’s claims, and neither Vasundhara Raje nor Rajendra Rathore faced legal action based on these allegations. The controversy marked a turning point in Beniwal’s career, prompting him to form the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP).[22]
After Beniwal suspension from the Bharatiya Janata Party, he contested the 2013 assembly elections as an Independent candidate and won with a margin of 23,020 votes and secured his seat in assembly for second term.[23] During his second term, Beniwal continued to target both BJP and Congress leaders, accusing them of corruption and neglecting farmers issues. Beniwal also demanded a CBI inquiry against state cabinet minister Yunus Khan, alleging that Khan aided gangster Anandpal Singh in escaping police custody in exchange for electoral support in 2013. However, no evidence was publicly presented to support Beniwal’s claims, and the CBI inquiry he demanded did not materialise. Khan denied the allegations, and no legal proceedings were initiated against him in connection with this matter.[24]
On 23 September 2015, Beniwal was attacked by unidentified assailants while travelling from Jaipur to Nagaur. In response to the attack, around 500 students organised a “Kisan Yuva Aakrosh Rally” at Rajasthan University to protest the attack on Beniwal. The rally turned violent when police intervened, leading to a lathi-charge that injured 30 students and 18 policemen. The National Students Union of India (NSUI) staged a follow-up protest against police brutality, highlighting his influence among students and youth.[25][26]
In 2018, Beniwal, led the Kisan Hunkar Maharally in Barmer, Nagaur, Bikaner, Sikar and Jaipur to champion farmers’ rights before the state elections.[27][28] He demanded a complete farmer’s loan waiver, free electricity for irrigation, fair MSP, and better irrigation infrastructure, criticising the BJP-Raje government’s inadequate policies.[29] He launched the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) at the Jaipur rally, Beniwal formed a third front against BJP and Congress. The rallies pushed the Gehlot government to announce a partial ₹2 lakh loan waiver, which Beniwal called insufficient.[30]
Beniwal contested the 2018 Rajasthan assembly elections as a member of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, and secured seat in assembly for the third term with a margin of 16,948 votes.[31] Beniwal then entered the national politics and won the 2019 general elections in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Beniwal then won the 2023 assembly elections by defeating BJP’s Rewant Ram Danga, a defector of his own Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and secured his seat in assembly for consecutive fourth term with a margin of 2059 votes.[32]
Beniwal’s RLP party also contested two bye-elections on Khinvsar constituency of Nagaur in 2019 and 2024. Beniwal fielded his brother Narayan and wife Kanika, respectively, after he vacated the seat for Lok Sabha. In the 2019 by-election, Narayan Beniwal (RLP) defeated Congress Harendra Mirdha by a margin of 4,630 votes.[33] However, in the 2024 by-election, Kanika Beniwal (RLP) lost to BJP’s Rewant Ram, a former RLP defector, by 13,901 votes, marking the first time since 2008 that a non-Beniwal won the Khinvsar seat.[34] The defeat, exacerbated by opposition from Jat families like the Mirdhas and Madernas and RLP defections.[35][36]
Founding the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party
On 29 October 2018, Beniwal founded the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), becoming its president and national convenor in the process.[37] This made Beniwal one of the most influential politicians of Rajasthan since Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) is the only successful party in the state besides Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. Beniwal’s party gained support from agrarian groups, with backing from leaders like Kirodi Lal Meena, Ghanshyam Tiwari and Jayant Chaudhary during its formative rallies. As a member of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), Beniwal won four elections, out of which two were assembly elections (2018 and 2023) while two were Indian general elections (2019 and 2024). RLP fielded their candidates in two assembly elections (2018 and 2023). In 2018 elections three members of RLP won while in 2023 elections this number reduced to one i.e. Beniwal himself.[38]
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National politics (2019–present)
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Beniwal entry into national politics began after the 2019 general election, when he won from Nagaur constituency, as an RLP candidate in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA. Due to his strong regional base among agrarian communities, he defeated Congress candidate Jyoti Mirdha by a margin of 181,260 votes, securing his first term in Lok Sabha.[39] Previously he unsuccessfully contested the 2014 general election and came to third position with 159,980 votes as an Independent candidate.[40] Beniwal focused on farmers’ issues and brought them in the Parliament, advocating for policies to address agricultural distress, such as loan waivers and better minimum support prices (MSP).[41][42]
In 2020, Beniwal opposed to the three farm laws introduced by the modi government. At the time, Beniwal was a Member of Parliament in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Despite his alignment with the BJP, Beniwal’s deep ties to the agricultural community and his history of advocating for farmers’ rights positioned him as a natural ally for the nationwide farmer protests.[4]
Beniwal mobilised farmer communities in the Shekhawati and Nagaur regions, to join the protests against the farm laws. He organised rallies, including a march from Rajasthan to Delhi. On 8 December 2020, Beniwal supported the Bharat Bandh, a nationwide strike called by farmer unions. In a dramatic move, he resigned from three parliamentary committees—on agriculture, food processing, and the public accounts committee.[43] On 26 December 2020, Beniwal announced the RLP’s withdrawal from the NDA, accusing the central government of betraying farmers and ignoring their trouble. He stated:[44]
Despite the farmers' protests, the Narendra Modi government is not withdrawing farm laws because it has 303 MPs. Farmers from 1,200 kilometres away in Rajasthan are moving towards Delhi to be a part of the agitation. As the issues remained unheard and due to the farmers' agitation, I am tendering my resignation from the committees.
— Hanuman Beniwal, India Today
On 13 December 2023, a security breach occurred in chamber of the Indian Parliament, coinciding with the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack.[45] Two intruders, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D, jumped from the public gallery into the chamber, releasing yellow smoke canisters and shouting slogans, while two others sprayed coloured gas outside the Parliament premises. Beniwal was among the first parliamentarians to react when the intruders entered the Lok Sabha chamber during zero hour, around 1:01 PM, as BJP MP Khagen Murmu was speaking. As one intruder jumped onto the benches and moved toward the Speaker’s chair, Beniwal swiftly intervened. Alongside other MPs, including Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Malook Nagar, he overpowered and subdued one of the intruders.[46][47] During this incident around 150 MPs, including prominent leaders like Rahul Gandhi and defence minister Rajnath Singh, were present in the house at the time. In a statement to the media, Beniwal described the incident vividly, saying, “Herogiri unki utar di” (roughly translated as “taught them a lesson”).[48]
Beniwal then contested the 2024 general election in alliance with the Congress-led INDIA bloc and won the election against BJP candidate Jyoti Mirdha with a margin of 42,225 votes.[49]
After the results of general elections, Beniwal expressed disappointment over being sidelined by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc. Beniwal criticised his exclusion from INDIA bloc meetings in Delhi on 1 and 5 June 2024, attributing it to the RLP’s smaller size. While reaffirming his alliance commitment, Beniwal hinted at future uncertainty, stating, "Today I am with the INDIA bloc, but no one can be certain about tomorrow." He also denied immediate plans to join the NDA.[50][51] Later, the Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, apologised to Beniwal for not inviting him.[52] Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal also spoke to Beniwal regarding his disappointment.[53]
Beniwal served as member of institute body at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur.[54]
Beniwal addressed a Jat community maha-panchayat on the Jaipur-Agra National Highway in Bharatpur, Rajasthan on 29 June 2025. He demanded OBC reservation for the Jat community of Bharatpur, Dholpur, and Deeg districts in central government services. Bharatpur MP Sanjna Jatav, also participated in the maha-panchayat, and a memorandum was submitted to the district collector, addressed to prime minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the exclusion of these districts’ Jats from the 1998 central OBC reservation granted to Jats of Rajasthan.[55][56]
Debates in the Lok Sabha
Beniwal has been an outspoken and active participant in Lok Sabha debates. His interventions have primarily focused on agrarian issues, youth employment, education, regional governance, and national security. He opposed the 2020 farm laws, supported the farmers’ protests, and resigned from NDA alliances and parliamentary committees in protest.[4] Throughout his tenure, he has repeatedly demanded a complete loan waiver for farmers, arguing that rising debt and agrarian distress threaten rural livelihoods across states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab.[57]
In matters of education, Beniwal has consistently raised concerns over systemic failures. In July 2025, during the monsoon session, he addressed the collapse of a government school roof in Jhalawar district, Rajasthan.[58] He expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of public schools and argued that political leaders and government officials should enrol their children in government schools, asserting that such a move could help improve the quality of education.[59]
He has also raised the issue of paper leaks and demanded CBI investigations, particularly in connection with irregularities in Rajasthan’s recruitment processes.[60] Beniwal drew national attention to alleged environmental violations in Sariska and Nahargarh sanctuaries, prompting the central government to seek reports from the state.[61] The Supreme Court later criticised the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) for undermining the system by approving the Sariska tiger reserve boundary rationalisation proposal in rapid succession.[62]
During debates on Operation Sindoor in July 2025, he used metaphors comparing Pakistan to India’s “wife” after the operation, a comment that attracted widespread media coverage for its humour and audacity.[63][64] In the 2023 Parliament security breach, Beniwal was among the MPs who physically confronted an intruder, later demanding high-level accountability for the lapse.[46]
Protest against Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC)
In April 2025, Beniwal initiated a protest in Jaipur, Rajasthan, demanding the dissolution and restructuring the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the 2021 Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment and the 2018 Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS). Notably, no member of the opposition Indian National Congress participated in the protest, with the movement primarily driven by RLP supporters and student groups at the Shahid Smarak in Jaipur, alleging corruption and mismanagement within the RPSC.[65]
Beniwal emerged as a key advocate for cancelling the Rajasthan Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination conducted by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) to fill 859 vacancies for Sub-Inspectors and platoon commanders.[66][67] The examination faced allegations of question paper leak and irregularities, leading to protests.[68] Beniwal accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Bhajanlal government of failing to act despite evidence of malpractice, including the arrest of approximately 50 trainee Sub-Inspectors and two RPSC members by the Special Operations Group (SOG). He further claimed that the government disregarded recommendations from the SOG and a cabinet sub-committee to cancel the recruitment process.[69][70] Beniwal accused Rajasthan state minister K.K. Vishnoi, alleging his involvement in the SI recruitment paper leak case.[71]
On 26 April 2025, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party launched an indefinite sit-in protest at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur, led by Beniwal.[72] On 2 May 2025, Beniwal and his several supporters surrendered themselves to Rajasthan police during a march toward the chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma residence, though they were later released.[73] On 6 May 2025, Beniwal held a party meeting in Jaipur to discuss the ongoing agitation, attended by party members from 21 districts.[74] On 8 May 2025, Beniwal postponed the protest until 14 May due to the ongoing India Pakistan conflict.[75]
In response to the ongoing protest by the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, the RPSC revised the result of the 2018 RAS exam after allegations of fraud. Padma, initially ranked 24th, was reassigned to 39th rank due to errors in her answer sheet evaluation.[76]
On 23 May 2025, state cabinet minister, Kirodi Lal Meena, attended the protest for brief time.[77]
On 25 May 2025, Beniwal held the a massive rally, known as Yuva Aakrosh Maharally in Mansarovar, Jaipur. The large-scale rally at V.T. Road focused on irregularities in the Rajasthan Police Sub-Inspector recruitment and government corruption. This rally was attended by his statewide supporters. Beniwal demanded transparency and systemic reforms. Beniwal criticised the state government and said:[78]
Until now, paper leaks were the norm, but now they’ve adopted the technique of swapping OMR sheets. The RPSC, a constitutional institution, has become a hub of corruption and must be dissolved and restructured. Only qualified and honest officers should be appointed as its members. I reiterate my opposition to the Agnipath scheme for army recruitment. Despite the entire government machinery and ministers’ efforts, the crowd at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Bikaner was sparse
— Hanuman Beniwal, Yuva Aakrosh Maharally, [79]
Following the Yuva Aakrosh Maharally, Beniwal continued the protest and met the governor of Rajasthan, Haribhau Bagade, on 29 May 2025. Beniwal also accused the state and central government of spying him by phone tapping.[80] Amid ongoing protest, the governor of Rajasthan appointed Utkal Ranjan Sahoo as the new chairman of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) on 10 June 2025.[81]
Beniwal criticised the ruling BJP state government for refusing to postpone the Rajasthan Administrative Services 2024 Main examination. Beniwal noted that the government has not delayed the exam despite requests from both deputy chief ministers and BJP state president Madan Rathore to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.[82][83]
Jodhpur doctor suicide protest (2025)
On 14 June 2025, a 30-year-old resident doctor at SN Medical College in Jodhpur, died by suicide, after consuming poison. His family alleged that Head of the pharmacology department at SN Medical College mentally harassed him by threatening to block his thesis completion. It led to sit-in protest by the Bishnoi family members outside the mortuary of SMS Hospital, Jaipur.[84][85]
Beniwal joined the family’s sit-in outside the SMS Hospital mortuary on 15 June 2025, criticising the Bhajanlal government and Jodhpur administration for inaction. He demanded HOD suspension, arrest, and an impartial investigation.[86] Congress MLA Abhimanyu Poonia and former Rajasthan University Student Union President Nirmal Chaudhary joined the protests.[87] On 19 June, Beniwal announced a march to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s residence for 20 June.[88]
On 20 June 2025, the Bhajanlal government agreed to the family’s demands, including action against the HOD, ending the protest.[89]
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Electoral history
Beniwal in his career contested eight elections, out of which five of them were assembly elections (2003, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2023), while three were general parliamentary elections (2014, 2019, 2024), and he won six elections out of these eight elections, had lost one assembly election in 2003 and then a general election in 2014. Beniwal contested his maiden assembly election in 2003 on ticket of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), then he contested the 2008 assembly election on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket. After being suspended from the BJP, Beniwal contested the 2013 assembly election and 2014 general elections as an Independent candidate. Later he founded his own party on the eve of 2018 Rajasthan Assembly elections and since then he contested all elections under RLP banner.
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Positions held
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- RES Resigned
Other positions held
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Personal life
He married Kanika Beniwal on 9 December 2009. The couple has two children: a son named Ashutosh and a daughter named Diya.[98] Kanika hails from Sri Ganganagar and did Bachelor of Science from Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur.[99] On the eve of 2024 Rajasthan Assembly By-elections, Kanika contested from Khinwsar as a member of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party but lost to BJP Rewant Ram Danga by 13,901 votes.[100][101]
Beniwal is a follower and disciple of the folk deity Veer Teja.[102][103]
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References
External links
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