Chaudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag

Choudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag (born 18 May 1945) son of Chaudhary Devi Lal from village Chautala in Sirsa. Ranjit Singh ji is Social worker, Agriculturist, and Politician. He belongs to very powerful and strong Jat family. He started very young in politics and learned from his father Chaudhary Devi Lal (chief minister of haryana and deputy prime minister of India) and his uncle Sahib Ram who was member of Punjab Assembly in 1937 and 1946. Ranjit Singh has more than 60 years of experience in politics, he has contested in many elections and had become MLA, Minister and MP many times. He is well known for his polite behavior and his gentle nature.

Ranjit Singh emerges as a significant figure, widely regarded by many as Tau Devi Lal’s political successor. Ranjit Singh remained closely associated with Tau Devi Lal for years, learning the nuances of politics directly under his guidance. He played an important role in several of Tau’s election campaigns and developed a reputation for his strong organizational skills and strategic understanding of politics. At the same time, Tau Devi Lal actively promoted members of his family in politics. He first got his second son, Pratap, elected as an MLA from Ellenabad in 1967. However, Pratap’s tenure lasted only until 1968, and he was unable to establish a lasting presence in active politics thereafter. Subsequently, Tau fielded his son Om Prakash Chautala from Ellenabad in 1968. Although Chautala lost that election, he made a comeback by winning the by-election in 1970. Later, he faced defeat from Hisar in 1984, but in August 1987, Tau ensured his entry into the Rajya Sabha, keeping him relevant in national politics. Amid these developments, Tau Devi Lal is believed to have considered Ranjit Singh as his true political heir. In 1987, when Tau became the Chief Minister of Haryana, Ranjit Singh served as the Agriculture Minister. Two years later, in 1989, when Tau assumed the role of Deputy Prime Minister at the Centre, he and several leaders of the Lok Dal reportedly favored Ranjit Singh as the next Chief Minister of Haryana. However, this plan did not materialize due to political circumstances. In 1990, Ranjit Singh was instead sent to the Rajya Sabha. These developments underscore his importance in Tau Devi Lal’s political vision, even though he ultimately did not ascend to the मुख्यमंत्री पद. Thus, the legacy of Tau Devi Lal and the political journey of Ranjit Singh together form a significant chapter in the history of Haryana politics—one that reflects both influence and missed opportunities in the question of succession.

Following these developments, Ranjit Singh continued to remain active in politics, contesting several elections and never giving up despite repeated challenges. Interestingly, much of the opposition he faced came from within his own extended political circle, where rivals often anticipated his defeat. However, he consistently demonstrated resilience and determination. In 2019, after a long political journey spanning nearly 32 years, Ranjit Singh achieved a significant milestone by winning as an independent MLA on his own strength. His victory was notable not only for its independence from major party backing but also for its impact on government formation. He extended crucial support in the formation of the government and, in return, was entrusted with three major ministerial portfolios.

Family

His wife is smt India Sihag (nee Saharan) of village Ganeshgarh in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. His son is Gagandeep Singh, a social worker. Ranjit Singh's grandchildren are Gayatri and Surya Prakash, both of them help their grandfather in politics.

Political career

1987 - MLA from "Rori" Vidhan Sabha in 7th Vidhan Sabha
1987 - Agriculture Minister
1990 - Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Haryana
2006 - Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Commission (Cabinet Minister Rank)
2019 - MLA from "Rania" Vidhan Sabha in 14th Vidhan Sabha
2019 - 11 March 2024 1. Minister of Power, 2. Minister of New & Renewable Energy and 3. Minister of Jails.
12 March 2024 - 26 March 2024 Minister of Power, 2. Minister of New & Renewable Energy and 3. Minister of Jails.
26 March 2024 - 5 October 2024 Minister of Power, 2. Minister of New & Renewable Energy and 3. Minister of Jails.

Election History

1987 - Rori Lok Dal MLA - Won 43,588 votes
1990 - Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana
1998 - Hisar Lok Sabha Congress - Lost
2000 - Rori Congress MLA - Lost (got 34,791 votes)
2008 - Adampur bypoll Congress MLA - Lost (got 30,653 votes)
2009 - Rania Congress MLA - Lost 44,590 votes (lost by 3651 votes)
2014 - Rania Congress MLA - Lost 36,703 votes (lost by 7,268 votes 5.1%)
2019 - Rania Independent MLA Won 53,825 votes
2024 - Hisar Lok Sabha BJP- Lost (got 5,07,043 votes - lost by 63,381 votes, 5.39%)
2024 - Rania ind MLA - Lost, got 36,401 votes (lost by 7,513 votes)

Table

Election History

Name	Year	House	Constituency	Party	Result	Votes	Margin
Chaudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag	1987	Vidhan Sabha	Rori	Lok Dal	Won	43,588
Chaudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag	1990	Rajya Sabha	Haryana	Lok Dal	Won
Chaudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag	1998	Lok Sabha	Hisar	Congres	Lost
Chaudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag	2008 bypoll	Vidhan Sabha	Adampur	Congress	Lost	30,653
Chaudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag	2009	Vidhan Sabha	Rania	Congress	Lost	44,590	3651
Chaudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag	2014	Vidhan Sabha	Rania	Congress	Lost	36,703	7,268
Chaudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag	2019	Vidhan Sabha	Rania	Independent	Won	53,825
Chaudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag	2024	Lok Sabha	Hisar	BJP	Lost	5,07,043	63,381(5.39%)
Chaudhary Ranjit Singh Sihag	2024	Vidhan Sabha	Rania	Independent	Lost	36,401	7,513

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References

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