Ajay Chandrakar

{{short description|Indian politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox Indian politician | name = Ajay Chandrakar | image = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|06|24|df=y}} | birth_place = Kurud, Chhattisgarh, India | death_date = | death_place =

| office8 = Member of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly | successor8 = | predecessor8 = Gurmukh Singh Hora | constituency8 = Kurud | term_start8 = 1 December 1998 | term_end8 = 31 October 2000 | alma_mater = SBR College Durga Mahavidyalaya, Raipur | party = Bharatiya Janata Party | spouse = Pratibha Chandrakar | children = Ajay Ranjan Chandrakar | website = {{url|ajaychandrakar.com}} }} '''Ajay Chandrakar''' (born 24 June 1963) is an Indian politician from Chhattisgarh. He is a five time MLA and a former Cabinet Minister in Government of Chhattisgarh. He won the 2023 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election from Kurud Assembly constituency representing the Bharatiya Janata Party.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kurud Election Result 2023 LIVE Updates and Highlights: Ajay Chandrakar of BJP Wins |url=https://www.news18.com/elections/kurud-election-result-2023-live-updates-and-highlights-winner-loser-leading-trailing-mla-margin-8687418.html |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-03 |title=Kurud, Chhattisgarh Assembly Election Results 2023 Highlights: Kurud में BJP ने INC कोहराया |url=https://www.aajtak.in/elections/story/kurud-chhattisgarh-assembly-election-results-2023-live-1830646-2023-12-03 |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=आज तक |language=hi}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Chandrakar is from Kurud, Dhamtari District, Chhattisgarh. He is the son of late Kaliram Chandrakar. He completed his graduation from SBR College in Bilaspur. He later did MA in Hindi literature in1986 at Durga Mahavidyalaya, Raipur which is affiliated with Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ajay Chandrakar(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- KURUD(DHAMTARI) - Affidavit Information of Candidate: |url=https://myneta.info/Chhattisgarh2023/candidate.php?candidate_id=272 |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=myneta.info}}</ref> His discontinued his research on plays of Vishnu Prabhakar due to political agitation during his student days.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

== Political career == Chandrakar started his political life as a student leader. He first became an MLA winning the 1998 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election representing the Bharatiya Janata Party. He retained the seat for the BJP, in the first election after the formation of the new state. He won the 2003 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election defeating Deepa Sahu of the Indian National Congress by a thin margin of 2,709 votes. Later, he lost the 2008 Assembly election to Lekhram Sahu of Congress but regained the seat and won consecutively three terms in 2013, 2018 and 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kurud Constituency Election Results 2023: Kurud Assembly Seat Details, MLA Candidates & Winner |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/chhattisgarh/constituency-show/kurud |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, he polled 94,712 votes and defeated his nearest rival, Tarni Neelam Chandrakar of the Indian National Congress, by a margin of 8,090 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kurud assembly election results 2023: Kurud Winning Candidates List and Vote Share |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/chhattisgarh/kurud-assembly-result-26057 |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Live |first=A. B. P. |date=2023-12-03 |title=Kurud Election Result 2023 Live: Bjp Candidate Ajay Chandrakar Wins From Kurud |url=https://news.abplive.com/elections/kurud-election-result-2023-live-updates-constituency-vote-counting-winner-loser-bjp-congress-jcc-chhattisgarh-assembly-election-results-news-1647393 |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=news.abplive.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 1987, he even spent 7 days in jail for participating in an agitation. {{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} In 2003, he became a part of the Chhattisgarh government as a Panchayat and Rural Development Minister as well as a Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. {{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} In 2004, he was also assigned the portfolios of Science and Technology, Technical Education, and Manpower Planning. {{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} Later in 2007, he became the minister of higher education.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bharat |first=E. T. V. |date=2024-06-21 |title=अजय चंद्राकर बन सकते हैं कैबिनेट मंत्री ! पत्रकारों के सवाल पर मुस्कुराए सीएम साय - New Cabinet Minister |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hi/!state/ajay-chandrakar-can-become-new-cabinet-minister-after-brijmohan-agrawal-resignation-in-vishnudeo-sai-cabinet-cts24062106006 |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=ETV Bharat News |language=hi}}</ref><ref>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/bjp-ministers-attend-education-meet-104081201067_1.html BJP ministers attend education meet]. Retrieved 2025-10-29.</ref>

After he lost the 2008 Assembly election, he was made the head of the State Finance Commission. Later, he served as the party's vice-chairman and official spokesperson. {{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

He regularly conducts Jandarshan programmes and meets people of his constituency. {{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

He has been trying to get Sirpur, a world heritage site tag. He participates in the cultural and literary festivals held in Sirpur annually. {{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

=== President of Chhattisgarh Football Association === Chandrakar was unanimously elected as President of Chhattisgarh Football Association in November 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-05 |title=Culture and Tourism Minister Shri Ajay Chandrakar elected as President of Chhattisgarh Football Association |url=https://www.apnnews.com/culture-and-tourism-minister-shri-ajay-chandrakar-elected-as-president-of-chhattisgarh-football-association/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=APN News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Subject bar |commons = yes |d = yes |q = yes |portal1 = Biography |portal2 = Politics |portal3 = India }} * [http://www.ajaychandrakar.com Ajay Chandrakar official website] * [https://www.facebook.com/ajaychandrakar.official Official Facebook]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandrakar, Ajay}} Category:Living people Category:State cabinet ministers of Chhattisgarh Category:1963 births Category:Chhattisgarh MLAs 2013–2018 Category:People from Dhamtari district Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Chhattisgarh Category:Chhattisgarh MLAs 2018–2023 Category:Madhya Pradesh MLAs 1998–2003 Category:Chhattisgarh MLAs 2000–2003 Category:Chhattisgarh MLAs 2003–2008 Category:Indian football executives Category:Chhattisgarh MLAs 2023–2028