Saleh Mohammad (Indian politician)

Shale Mohammad Also known as Mohammad Saleh (born 1 February 1977) is an Indian politician serving as the Cabinet Minister of Minority Affairs of the state of Rajasthan since 2018. He belongs to the Indian National Congress party.

Shale Mohammad
Minister of Minority Affairs of Rajasthan
Assumed office
25 December 2018
Preceded byArun Chaturwedi
Member of Rajasthan Assembly
Assumed office
25 December 2018
Preceded byShaitan Singh
ConstituencyPokhran
In office
2008–2013
Succeeded byShaitan Singh
Personal details
Born
Mohammad Saleh

(1977-02-01) 1 February 1977[1]
Jaisalmer
CitizenshipIndian
NationalityIndian
Political partyIndian National Congress
ChildrenOne Daughter
ParentsGazi Fakeer (father)
ResidenceBhagu Ka Gaon, Jaisalmer
ProfessionAgriculturist
CabinetThird Ashok Gehlot ministry

Personal life

Mohammad's father is Gazi Fakir, who is a Muslim religious leader. Fakir is influential amongst the Sindhi Muslims.[2]

Political career

Early career

In 2000, Mohammad became the head of Jaisalmer Panchayat samiti at the age of 23.[1]

In 2013 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, Mohammad was defeated by Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Shaitan Singh by a margin of approximately 35,000 votes.[3] In 2008 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, he won from the newly created Pokhran assembly constituency by a margin of 339 votes.[1] However, he lost to Shaitan Singh in the next election.[4]

Cabinet minister

In 2018 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, Mohammad was pitted against Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Mahant Pratap Puri. Pratap Puri is a Hindu saint and is the mahant (chief priest) of Taratara sect. According to political observers, by fielding the mahant against Mohammad, the party was trying to fight anti-incumbency by polarising the Hindu voters.[5] Mohammad defeated Pratap Puri by a margin of 872 votes.[2]

Subsequently, Mohammad was made a cabinet minister in the third Gehlot ministry and became the first ever politician from Jaisalmer district to get a ministry.[6] He took charge over the ministry of Minority affairs,[7] and took oath on 25 December 2018.[8]

Controversy

In August 2013, an FIR was lodged against Mohammad for allegedly issuing threats to IPS officer Pankaj Choudhary following an argument at a petrol pump.[9]

References
  1. "जैसलमेर में जश्न का माहौल, जिले से पहली बार मंत्री बनेंगे सालेह मोहम्मद , खत्म हुआ बरसों लम्बा इंतजार" [There is an atmosphere of happiness at Jaisalmer, Saleh Mohammad will become the minister for the first time from the district, ending a long period of wait]. Dainik Bhaskar. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. Das Gupta, Moushumi (15 December 2018). "BJP mahant's defeat in Pokhran will hurt Yogi Adityanath more than most". The Print. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  3. Sharma, Madhav (5 December 2018). "Why the Political Atmosphere in Rajasthan's Pokhran Has Turned Communal". The Wire. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. "2 out of 4 Muslim BJP candidates win in Rajasthan, Congress Muslim candidates lose". Two Circles. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  5. Tiwari, Rituraj (23 November 2018). "Religion rules as sant & fakir battle it out in Pokhran". The Economic Times. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  6. Sheikh, Sikandar (25 December 2018). "आजादी के बाद जैसलमेर जिले को पहली बार मिला मंत्री, सालेह मोहम्मद बने कैबिनेट मंत्री" [After independence, Jaisalmer district gets it first ever minister, Saleh Mohammad becomes cabinet minister]. News 18. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  7. Hashmi, Rasia (3 January 2019). "Lone Muslim minister of Rajasthan performs puja at temple". Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  8. Goyal, Yash (25 December 2018). "17 new faces as 23 Raj ministers sworn-in". Tribune India. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  9. "FIR lodged against Congress MLA Saleh Mohammad". India Today. 4 August 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.