Who is Raaj Kumar Anand? Delhi's social welfare minister who resigned from govt and quit AAP

Raaj Kumar Anand resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday, citing corruption allegations against the party and the imprisonment of party national convener Arvind Kejriwal. Additionally, he stepped down from his position as a cabinet minister in the Delhi government.

Anand, known as the dalit face of AAP, represents the Patel Nagar constituency as an MLA. The 57-year-old had previously left AAP along with his wife in 2015, but later rejoined the party. In fact, his wife Veena was elected MLA from Patel Nagar in 2013.

Personal Background:

Anand was born on September 14, 1966. During his childhood, he worked in a lock factory in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. He pursued his postgraduate studies in political science at Bundelkhand University (Jhansi) in 1989, financing his education by tutoring students in Aligarh.

Political Career:
Anand secured victory as an MLA in the 2020 Delhi assembly polls, representing Patel Nagar. He joined the Delhi cabinet on November 3, 2022, following the resignation of Seemapuri MLA Rajendra Pal Gautam. Anand was entrusted with seven portfolios, including social welfare, labour, employment, SC/ST welfare, and cooperatives.

Allegations Against the MLA:
Anand faced accusations of making hawala payments to China and evading customs duty amounting to approximately Rs. 7 crore on various imports. Furthermore, he underwent a 23-hour raid by the Enforcement Directorate in November 2023.

Inputs from TOI