How a student activist became the third force in Rajasthan's complex political landscape
In short: Hanuman Beniwal rose from student union president to a pivotal power broker in Rajasthan. By founding the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, he challenged the state's traditional two-party dominance. From leading agrarian protests to physically intercepting intruders in the Indian Parliament, his career is defined by a volatile, populist approach to governance.
Born in 1972 in Nagaur, Hanuman Beniwal began his political trajectory as a student leader at Rajasthan University. His early activism was marked by direct confrontation, including a 1996 arrest following a clash with police and a successful 1997 campaign for student union president. During his tenure, he championed the interests of rural students, successfully lobbying for a five percent bonus in university admissions to address resource disparities. This early focus on rural advocacy would become the hallmark of his later career.
Beniwal’s transition into formal politics saw him align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2008, winning his first assembly seat from Khinvsar. However, internal friction and accusations of corruption against senior party figures led to his expulsion. Undeterred, he contested as an independent in 2013 before founding the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) in 2018. The RLP quickly established itself as the third-largest political force in Rajasthan, positioning itself as a champion for farmers' rights, loan waivers, and better irrigation infrastructure.
His national profile grew after winning the Nagaur Lok Sabha seat in 2019 while in alliance with the NDA. Yet, his commitment to agrarian issues remained paramount; he famously resigned from parliamentary committees and withdrew his party from the NDA in 2020 to protest the central government's new farm laws. His unpredictability remains a defining trait, as evidenced by his 2024 alliance with the Congress-led INDIA bloc and his subsequent public frustration over being sidelined by his new partners. Whether acting as a parliamentary disruptor or a regional agitator, Beniwal continues to navigate the shifting sands of Indian politics with a focus on his core agrarian base.
Beyond electoral politics, Beniwal is known for his assertive, sometimes physical, style of engagement. In December 2023, he was among the MPs who intercepted intruders during a security breach in the Lok Sabha chamber. His influence extends to social issues as well, recently leading a maha-panchayat to demand OBC reservation for Jat communities in specific Rajasthan districts, highlighting his ongoing role as a vocal representative for his constituency.
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