Ashok Bajpai


Ashok Bajpai is a politician from Bharatiya Janata Party and member of the Upper House of Indian Parliament – Rajya Sabha. Bajpai has been active for 40 years in Indian Politics. He was elected on Six occasions Member of Legislative Assembly from Pihani constituency in Hardoi district, Uttar Pradesh while losing three times in the same constituency over the period of 30 years. He was also a Member of Legislative Council of Uttar Pradesh.

Early life and education

Bajpai was born in a farmer's family in a small village in Uttar Pradesh. He was a National Cadet Corps cadet in his school days, where he won a Gold Medal in shooting.
He completed his Bachelors in Science from Lucknow University and then went on to do a Diploma in Public Administration. He holds double M.A. in Political Science and Public Administration. Bajpai's later chose Public Administration as a subject for his PhD as well. He is the author of the book entitled 'Panchayati Raj in India'. Bajpai also received a degree in law.

Political journey

Bajpai became actively involved in politics as a student and started his political career with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. He was an active participant in the Jayaprakash Narayan Movement. He went to jail in June 1975 during the protest against the Emergency and stayed in the jail as a political prisoner for a period of 19 months. After getting released from jail, he joined and was appointed National Secretary of its Youth League in Uttar Pradesh. He has been elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly multiple times. He was re-elected to Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in March 2018.