{{short description|Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | office = Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | term_start = 2 August 2022 | name = Kartikeya Sharma | image = Kartikeya Sharma.jpg | alt = Kartikeya Sharma | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|05|14|df=y}} | birth_place = | spouse = {{marriage|Aishwarya Sharma|2011}} | children = | occupation = {{ubl|ITV Media network {{small|(Founder)}}|}} | parents = {{ubl|Venod Sharma|Shakti Rani Sharma}} | relatives = Manu Sharma (brother)<br> Kuldeep Sharma (father-in-law) | nickname = Kartik Sharma | known_for = India News <br /> NewsX <br />The Sunday Guardian <br /> Aaj Samaj | constituency = Haryana }} '''Kartikeya Sharma''' (born 14 May 1981) is an Indian politician, entrepreneur, and media baron, currently serving as a Member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament from Haryana. He won from the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) seat, defeating the Congress leader Ajay Maken in a highly contested election on 10 June 2022.<ref name=affidavit>{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Pawan |title=Who is Kartikeya Sharma? Ajay Maken lost to the media baron in RS polls |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/who-is-kartikeya-sharma-101654925687508.html |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=June 11, 2022}}</ref> Kartikeya is the founder of ITV Media Network, which operates multiple news channels, including those in National, English, Hindi, and 7 regional languages, along with print newspapers such as the ''Sunday Guardian'', ''Daily Guardian'', and ''Aaj Samaj''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kartikeya Sharma: The media baron and son of a veteran politician who toppled Congress |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/kartikeya-sharma-haryana-rajya-sabha-elections-7963885/ |publisher=Indian Express |date=June 11, 2022}}</ref>
== Personal life == Sharma was born to politician Venod Sharma and Shakti Rani Sharma on 14 May 1981.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.allcompanydata.com/in/director-details/kartikeya-sharma/66621 | title=Kartikeya Sharma Director profile | publisher=allcompanydata.com | accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref> He is married to author and professor Aishwarya Sharma (daughter of Indian National Congress politician Kuldeep Sharma, former speaker of Haryana Legislative Assembly<ref name="marriage">{{cite web |date=22 November 2011 |title=Karnal gears up for mega wedding today |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Karnal-gears-up-for-mega-wedding-today/articleshow/10824486.cms |accessdate=2 August 2014 |publisher=www.timesofindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Anita |date=22 November 2011 |title=Karnal gears up for mega wedding today – Times of India |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Karnal-gears-up-for-mega-wedding-today/articleshow/10824486.cms |accessdate=23 August 2016}}</ref>) since 2011. On April 24, 2023, Sharma had a road accident on the Western Peripheral Expressway while returning to Gurugram from a Parshuram Jayanti program in Charkhi Dadri.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Karmakar |first1=Debashish |title=Rajya Sabha MP Kartik Sharma, driver hurt in accident on KMP e-way |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/gurugram-news/rajya-sabha-mp-injured-in-road-accident-on-kmp-expressway-truck-driver-absconding-101682360055597.html |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> In accordance with his affidavit, Kartikeya Sharma declares ownership of assets exceeding Rs 387 crore.<ref name=affidavit/>
== Political career == Kartikeya Sharma is elected to Rajya Sabha in 2022 Rajya Sabha elections.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-11 |title=Who is Kartikeya Sharma? Ajay Maken lost to the media baron in RS polls |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/who-is-kartikeya-sharma-101654925687508.html |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-11 |title=Newsmaker {{!}} Kartikeya Sharma: The media baron and son of a veteran politician who toppled Congress |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/kartikeya-sharma-haryana-rajya-sabha-elections-7963885/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Kartikeya Sharma was part of a parliamentary delegation, headed by Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh. The delegation attended the 145th assembly of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, from October 11 to 15, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Among Thousands of Global Parliamentarians, India creates History at IPU held in Rwanda |url=https://sundayguardianlive.com/news/among-thousands-global-parliamentarians-india-creates-history-ipu-held-rwanda |publisher=The Sunday Guardian |date=October 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rajya Sabha Dy Chairman Harivansh to lead delegation in Rwanda for 145th Assembly of IPU |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/rajya-sabha-dy-chairman-harivansh-to-lead-delegation-in-rwanda-for-145th-assembly-of-ipu20221009101212/ |publisher=ANI News |date=October 9, 2022}}</ref> In December 2022, he attended the Shri Parshuram Mahakumbh organised in Karnal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-11 |title= 2024 में ब्राह्मण समाज से होगा CM चेहरा? आखिर क्या हैं सांसद अरविंद शर्मा के बयान के सियासी मायने |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/delhi-ncr-haryana/haryana-next-cm-face-from-brahmin-community-in-2024-political-significance-of-mp-arvind-sharma-statement-vchr/1481817 |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=zeenews.india.com |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-11 |title= Haryana: अगला CM ब्राह्मण हो बयान पर चले सियासी बाण, पहले सांसद भाटिया ने ली चुटकी, फिर CM ने कही ये बात |url=https://www.amarujala.com/haryana/karnal/politics-start-on-the-agla-cm-brahmin-ho-statement-in-haryana |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=www.amarujala.com |language=hi}}</ref>
During a parliamentary intervention, Sharma referred to ''Namo Shakti Rath'', a women-focused mobile health screening initiative involving the use of mobile units to promote preventive healthcare and early detection, particularly for breast and cervical cancers, as part of a broader discussion on public health and cancer prevention.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma lauds Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, says crucial for fight against cancer |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/rajya-sabha-mp-kartikeya-sharma-lauds-health-security-se-national-security-cess-bill-says-crucial-for-fight-against-cancer20251208192242/ |access-date=2026-01-05 |website=ANI News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma Backs Health Security Cess Bill - BW Healthcare World |url=https://www.bwhealthcareworld.com/article/rajya-sabha-mp-kartikeya-sharma-backs-health-security-cess-bill-582899 |access-date=2026-01-05 |website=BW Health |language=en}}</ref>
== Business == Kartikeya Sharma completed his Bachelor of Business Administration from King's College London. In 2007, he founded ITV Media. He launched a series of regional TV channels under India News; by 2015, India News managed five regional channels that covered Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand.<ref name="guardian1">{{cite web | url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/story-of-a-media-entrepreneur-kartikeya-sharma | title=Story of a Media Entrepreneur: Kartikeya Sharma | publisher=The Sunday Guardian | date=4 Jul 2015 | accessdate=2 February 2016 | author1=Sabherwal, Simran | author2=Achhpal, Henna | archive-date=7 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107223515/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/story-of-a-media-entrepreneur-kartikeya-sharma | url-status=dead }}</ref> Later on, Sharma acquired, through ITV Media, English language news channel NewsX.<ref name="hindu1">{{cite web | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Tycoons-testing-their-luck-in-Haryana/article11066792.ece | title=Tycoons testing their luck in Haryana | work=The Hindu | date=12 October 2014 | accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="exchange">{{cite web|title=Quick five with Kartikeya Sharma on NewsX purchase|url=http://www.exchange4media.com/tv/quick-five-with-kartikeya-sharma-on-newsx-purchase_47245.html|publisher=www.exchange4media.com|accessdate=17 July 2012}}</ref> He entered the print media with the acquisition of The Sunday Guardian, an English language Sunday newspaper, and Aaj Samaj, a Hindi language daily newspaper.<ref name="exchange" /><ref>{{cite web|title=ITV to see NewsX get scale with substance|url=http://www.mxmindia.com/2012/07/itv-to-see-newsx-get-scale-with-substance/|publisher=www.mxmindia.com|accessdate=23 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bestmediainfo.com/2014/12/interview-kartikeya-sharma-managing-director-itv-network/ | title=Interview: Kartikeya Sharma, Owner, iTV Network | publisher=Bestmediainfo.com | date=29 December 2014 | accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref> He has also been involved with News Wire Services, an Indian TV news wire service.<ref>{{cite web|title=Advisory Board|url=http://indianewsacademy.com/advisory_board.php|publisher=indianewsacademy.com|accessdate=23 April 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140319165838/http://indianewsacademy.com/advisory_board.php|archive-date=19 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kartikeya Sharma is the Owner of Picaadily Hotels, Which Along With Hyatt owns a Range of Properties in Delhi and Parts of Haryana and Punjab. In 2015, Sharma set up ''Pro Sportify'' with Ashish Chadha, CEO of the Sporty Solutionz, a company that runs the Pro Wrestling League.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/sports/itv-network-md-kartikeya-sharma-invests-in-pro-wrestling-league-150724 | title=iTV Network MD Kartikeya Sharma invests in Pro Wrestling League | publisher=Indiantelevision.com | date=24 Jul 2015 | accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Now, a pro wrestling league in India|url=http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/pTGzJeEw89wTMKFnR4xq1L/Now-a-pro-wrestling-league-in-India.html|publisher=www.livemint.com|accessdate=28 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=We will be launching India News Business by next quarter: Kartikeya Sharma|url=http://www.exchange4media.com/tv/we-will-be-launching-india-news-business-by-next-quarterkartikeya-sharma_54186.html|publisher=www.exchange4media.com|accessdate=19 March 2014}}</ref>
==Awards== Kartikeya Sharma got the Champions of Change Award 2022. He also won the award for the Best CEO of the Year at the 2016 eNBA Awards.<ref>{{cite news|title=iTV Network wins big at the eNBA Awards 2016|url=http://www.newsx.com/national/57022-itv-network-wins-big-at-the-enba-awards-2016|accessdate=25 February 2017|publisher=NewsX}}</ref><ref name="IBM">{{cite web |author=Philip Piletic |title=Kartikeya Sharma: The Man Behind the Success of ITV Media Network and NewsX |url=https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/e70ad5d5-6aee-416b-8a81-15b712586101/entry/Kartikeya_Sharma_The_Man_Behind_the_Success_of_ITV_Media_Network_and_NewsX?lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502081930/https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/e70ad5d5-6aee-416b-8a81-15b712586101/entry/Kartikeya_Sharma_The_Man_Behind_the_Success_of_ITV_Media_Network_and_NewsX?lang=en |archive-date=2019-05-02 |work=ibm.com}}</ref> He was honoured with Person Of The Year Award by the Businessworld in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-10 |title= Person of The Year Award से सम्मानित हुए सांसद कार्तिक शर्मा |url=https://www.indianewsharyana.com/haryana/mp-karthik-sharma-honored-with-person-of-the-year-award/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=indianewsharyana |language=hi}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *Kartikeya Sharma's [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kartikeyasharma linkedin profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Kartikeya}} Category:Indian business executives Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford Category:Living people Category:1981 births Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:Rajya Sabha members from Haryana Kartikeya Sharma