Uma Bharti

Bharti shot into fame for her fiery speeches during the controversial Ayodhya-Ram Janmabhoomi movement

Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

Date & year of birth: May 3, 1959
Constituency: Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
Constituencies represented: Jhansi (‘89, ‘91, ‘96); Khajuraho (‘98)
Whether held ministerial charge earlier: Yes

Uma Bharti was one of the 23 parliamentarians who has willingly joined his Cabinet. Bharti won her fourth Lok Sabha election with a margin of 190,000 votes from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.

Bharti, 55, was born to a backward peasant family in Dunda village, Madhya Pradesh and her formal education is only up to Class 6. She entered into politics in early 80’s and contested her first election at the age of 25.

She lost only to win the Khajuraho seat in Madhya Pradesh's Bundelkhand region five years later.

She shot into fame for her organising skills and fiery speeches during the controversial Ayodhya-Ram Janmabhoomi movement that resulted in the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. Atal Bihari Vajpayee appointed Bharti, a sworn celibate, a minister in his council of ministers. Bharti was later sent to Madhya Pradesh to contest Assembly elections and she led a successful campaign against then Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh. She became CM but had to resign within a few months.