Renowned industrialist Naveen Jindal, 54, has stepped into the political arena as the BJP nominee for the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat, claiming the title of the wealthiest candidate among all contenders across party lines in Haryana’s 10 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Jindal, who recently joined the BJP in March and swiftly became the party’s Kurukshetra candidate, brings with him a complex political history marked by his involvement in the Coalgate scam in 2012, facing six cases related to alleged preferential treatment in coal mine allocations to his companies. Additionally, he faces three FIRs from the CBI and another three under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
According to his election affidavit, Naveen and his wife Shallu Jindal possess assets totalling over Rs 1,230 crore, including substantial holdings in gold, jewellery, and other valuables. Despite this immense wealth, neither Jindal nor his wife owns a motor vehicle in their name.
As the youngest son of esteemed industrialist Om Prakash and Savitri Jindal, Naveen has helmed various conglomerates, including Jindal Steel and Power Limited and OP Jindal University. Notably, the World Economic Forum recognized him in 2006 as one of the top 25 Indians among global young leaders.
Having represented the Kurukshetra constituency twice as a Congress nominee in 2004 and 2009, Jindal experienced defeat in 2014 to BJP’s Raj Kumar Saini and was not fielded by the Congress in 2019. Despite fluctuations in his vote share over the years, Jindal’s political journey has been marked by significant contributions, including his pivotal role in securing citizens’ rights to fly the national flag with dignity, leading to amendments in the National Flag Code.
Jindal’s recent decision to join the BJP stems from his desire to contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India and his admiration for the leadership’s historic initiatives, such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
