Mukesh Agnihotri is an Indian journalist turned politician and member of the Indian National Congress. He is a five-time MLA from Haroli (erstwhile Santokhgarh) constituency. On 11 December 2022, Mukesh was appointed as the first Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
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Wiki/Biography
Mukesh Agnihotri was born on Tuesday, 9 October 1962 (age 60 years; as in 2022) in Sangrur, Punjab. His zodiac sign is Libra. He grew up in Una, where he received his schooling. He has M.Sc. Is. in Mathematics and Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 7″
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Eye colour: dark brown
Family
parents and siblings
Mukesh’s father Pandit Omkar Chand Sharma is a politician and member of the Indian National Congress, who served as the Vice Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Agro Packaging Department during the Virbhadra Singh government in Himachal Pradesh in 1993. Omkar Sharma had contested the Legislative Assembly elections in 1998. Took ticket from Congress but lost to Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Pandit Jaikishan Sharma. Omkar had also served as the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) of Himachal Pradesh. His father died on 28 March 2016 due to prolonged illness. Mukesh’s elder brother Rakesh Agnihotri is a doctor. He has three sisters.
Mukesh Agnihotri’s parents
Mukesh Agnihotri with his family
wife and children
Mukesh Agnihotri married Simmi Agnihotri on 8 April 1992. Simmi is posted as Professor in the Department of Public Administration, Himachal Pradesh University. The couple has a daughter named Aastha Agnihotri, who is a social worker.
Mukesh Agnihotri with his wife and daughter
Religion
Mukesh Agnihotri follows Hindu religion.
Caste
Mukesh Agnihotri belongs to a Brahmin family.
Address
Mukesh’s permanent address is Aastha Kunj, Village and Post Office Gondpur Jaichand, Tehsil Haroli, District Una, Himachal Pradesh.
Signature
Signature of Mukesh Agnihotri
livelihood
journalism
Mukesh Agnihotri started his career in journalism as a news correspondent with Hindi daily Veer Pratap in Shimla. He worked there for some time and then joined Jansatta (Indian Express Group) in Shimla as a senior correspondent. He worked there for about 10 years and later moved to Delhi, where he was promoted as bureau chief. Three years later, he resigned from his post to enter politics. Being a journalist, he served as a member of various committees including Press Accreditation Committee (HP Government), State Press Advisory Committee, Press Gallery Committee State Legislative Assembly and Govt. Pahari Language Committee. He also served as General Secretary of Press Club (Shimla) and PCC and Chairman of Media Cell PCC.
Politics
While working as a journalist in Delhi, Agnihotri became close to Congress leader Virbhadra Singh, after which he decided to join the Indian National Congress. Seeing his involvement in party matters, Virbhadra Singh advised Mukesh to contest the assembly elections. In 2003, Mukesh Agnihotri was elected to the Legislative Assembly from Santokhgarh constituency. From March 2003 to August 2005, he served as the Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) and Chairman of the Housing Board in the Virbhadra Singh-led government.
Mukesh Agnihotri addressing a huge gathering of Congress workers in Kangar, Haroli.
In 2007, he won the majority and won the seat for the second time on a Congress ticket. During his second term, Mukesh served as a member of the Subordinate Legislation, General Development, Public Accounts and Human Development committees. After delimitation in the year 2008, Santokhgarh was changed to Haroli assembly seat. In 2012, Agnihotri was elected from Haroli assembly seat for the third time. Between 2012- 2017, Mukesh was inducted into the cabinet as the Minister of Industry with additional charges of Labor and Employment, Parliamentary Affairs and Information and Public Relations. During his tenure he worked hard to solve the problems of the people of Haroli and provide good education facilities to the students.
Mukesh Agnihotri at the inauguration of the third government college in Haroli.
In 2017, Mukesh contested the Haroli Assembly seat for the fourth consecutive time and won. However, this time the government was formed by BJP. Next year, Agnihotri was made the leader of the opposition and he fiercely launched a front against the Jairam government. In 2018, he was also nominated as a member of the Business Advisory Committee in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. During the 2022 state elections, Indian National Congress leaders made Agnihotri a star campaigner. Mukesh held several rallies across the state to campaign for Congress candidates. Agnihotri was elected to the Fourteenth Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh from Haroli constituency on 8 December 2022.
Mukesh Agnihotri during election campaign in Haroli, Una.
After this Mukesh was appointed the Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. On 11 December 2022, Agnihotri took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh at the historic Ridge in Shimla. Many senior Congress leaders including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Indian Youth Congress President Rahul Gandhi and All India Congress Committee general secretary and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Priyanka Gandhi were present at the swearing-in ceremony.
Mukesh Agnihotri took oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh on the historic ridge of Shimla.
After being appointed Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mukesh Agnihotri addressed the media and said that Congress is firm on its promises. He continued,
Our aim will be to implement some promises within 10 days or in the first cabinet. If the cabinet is not formed then only the cabinet of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister can hold the first cabinet meeting. In which we will implement it. The old pension scheme will be reinstated. Earlier people used to say that Congress will not come to power in any state, but today we have stopped the ‘chariot’ of BJP.
Before becoming MLA, Mukesh was working as the general secretary and president of the media cell of Himachal unit of Congress.
controversies
cases pending
- 1 Charge related to attacking the President, Governor etc. with intent to compel or prevent the exercise of any lawful power (IPC Section 124)
- 4 charges related to punishment for being a member of an unlawful assembly (IPC Section 143)
- 3 charges relating to disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant (IPC section 188)
Cases where convicted
- 3 charges related to punishment for wrongful restraint (IPC section 341)
- 2 charges relating to act endangering life or personal safety of others (IPC Section 336)
- 1 Charge relating to punishment for voluntarily causing hurt (IPC Section 323)
- 1 Charge relating to assault or criminal force to prevent a public servant from discharging his duty (IPC Section 353)
- 1 charge related to intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace (IPC Section 504)
- 1 Charge relating to acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention (IPC Section-34)
property and properties
movable property
- Bank Deposit Rs. 74,88,261
- Motor vehicle Rs. 3,59,263
- Gold jewelery worth Rs. 7,52,000
Immovable property
- Agricultural land Rs. 7,71,037
- Residential Building Rs. 60,00,000
Note: The given estimate of movable and immovable assets is as per the year 2022. It does not include property owned by his wife and dependents (minors).
net worth
As of 2022, Mukesh’s net worth is Rs. It is estimated to happen. 1,54,20,561.
Note: This does not include the net worth of his wife and dependents (minors).
Facts/General Knowledge
- In his free time, Mukesh likes to write, read, listen to music, sing, play harmonica and play badminton.
- He received the Best Coverage Award for reporting assembly proceedings in 1994–1995.
- Agnihotri was one of the strong contenders for the post of Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh in 2022. However, the party chose Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu for the post and he was appointed Deputy Chief Minister.
- Apparently Mukesh Agnihotri is very close to former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his family.
- In 2018, when Mukesh was elected as the leader of the opposition, there was no house available with the Himachal Pradesh government to allot to Agnihotri as all government residences were occupied by BJP ministers and other government officials. After this the government decided to allot him a flat, but Mukesh refused to live in the flat. Later this matter became very controversial.
- A religious person, Mukesh often visits various temples with his family.
Mukesh Agnihotri with his wife and daughter at Jwala Ji temple.
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Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn