Pakaudi Lal Kol

Pakaudi Lal Kol (born 2 July 1952) is an Indian politician and agriculturist who represents the Robertsganj Scheduled Caste reserved constituency in Uttar Pradesh as a member of the Lok Sabha.^[1] Affiliated with Apna Dal (Soneylal), a regional party allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, he secured election to the 17th Lok Sabha in 2019 following his prior term in the 15th Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014, during which he shifted party affiliations from earlier opposition groups.^[1][2] He also served as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2003.^[1] Throughout his parliamentary tenure, Kol has participated in standing committees addressing labour and skill development, external affairs, chemicals and fertilizers, and industry, contributing to legislative oversight in these domains.^[1] Hailing from the Mirzapur district, his career reflects engagement in regional politics centered on Scheduled Caste representation in a tribal-influenced eastern Uttar Pradesh belt.^[1]

Early Life and Background

Family Origins and Upbringing

Pakaudi Lal Kol is the son of Jugunu and was born circa 1952–1953, as indicated by his self-reported age of 57 years during the 2009 general elections and 66 years in the 2019 elections.^[3][4] His voter enrollment is in the Madihan assembly constituency, specifically associated with Bahuti village in Madihan tehsil, Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, reflecting his rural origins in this Scheduled Caste-reserved parliamentary area.^[3][5] The Kol surname denotes membership in the Kol community, an indigenous scheduled tribe group historically concentrated in eastern Uttar Pradesh and parts of neighboring states, often engaged in agriculture and forest-based livelihoods amid challenging socioeconomic conditions.^[3] Detailed records of his parents' occupations or ancestral lineage remain undocumented in public electoral disclosures or official biographies, with available sources focusing primarily on his later political activities rather than pre-political family history. Kol's upbringing occurred in this tribal-rural context of Sonbhadra, a region marked by dense forests, mining activities, and tribal demographics, though specific personal anecdotes or educational influences from childhood are not publicly detailed.^[6][3]

Education and Pre-Political Occupation

Pakaudi Lal Kol is literate but under-matriculate, having not completed formal secondary education.^[1][3] Before his political career, Kol worked as an agriculturist, engaging in farming activities in Uttar Pradesh.^[1][7][3]

Political Entry and Affiliations

Initial Political Involvement

Pakaudi Lal Kol entered electoral politics as a candidate of the Samajwadi Party in the 2009 Indian general election, contesting the Robertsganj Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, reserved for Scheduled Tribes. Representing the Kol tribal community, he secured victory with 135,966 votes, defeating the Bahujan Samaj Party's Sharada Prasad and assuming office as a member of the 15th Lok Sabha.^[8][9] Prior to this national-level debut, Kol's background as an agriculturist in rural Mirzapur district positioned him as a grassroots figure familiar with local tribal concerns in the Sonbhadra-Mirzapur belt, though specific pre-2009 organizational roles within the party remain undocumented in public records.^[1] His 2009 win established him as a voice for marginalized communities in a region marked by developmental challenges, including mining-related displacement and inadequate infrastructure.^[10]

Party Switches and Alliances

Pakaudi Lal Kol began his parliamentary career with the Samajwadi Party (SP), securing victory in the Robertsganj Lok Sabha constituency during the 2009 general elections with 2,36,606 votes, defeating the Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) incumbent by a margin of 25,651 votes.^[11] He retained the SP affiliation for the 2014 elections but lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Chhotelal Kharwar by 1,30,347 votes.^[7] Prior to the 2019 general elections, Kol switched allegiance to Apna Dal (Sonelal), formally joining the party on March 27, 2019, as a strategic move to align with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).^[12] Apna Dal (Sonelal), led by Anupriya Patel, functions as a regional ally of the BJP, focusing on Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Scheduled Caste (SC) voters in eastern Uttar Pradesh, particularly in areas like Sonbhadra district where Robertsganj is located.^[13] This alliance enabled Kol to contest and win the 2019 Robertsganj seat under the NDA banner, polling 4,47,914 votes against SP's Bhai Lal, with a margin of 54,336 votes.^[14] The switch from SP—an opposition party often aligned against the BJP-led NDA—to Apna Dal (Sonelal) reflected broader patterns of defection among politicians seeking NDA support amid the BJP's dominance in Uttar Pradesh post-2014.^[13] No further party switches by Kol are recorded, though internal tensions within Apna Dal (Sonelal) surfaced ahead of the 2024 elections, where the party denied him renomination in favor of his daughter-in-law Rinki Kol, leading to reported dissatisfaction among local supporters.^[15] The NDA alliance, however, continued to back Apna Dal (Sonelal)'s candidates in the constituency.^[16]

Electoral History

Lok Sabha Contests

Pakaudi Lal Kol first contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Robertsganj (Scheduled Caste) constituency in Uttar Pradesh during the 2009 general election as a candidate of the Samajwadi Party (SP). He secured victory, defeating the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) nominee and entering the 15th Lok Sabha as the member of parliament for Robertsganj.^[17] In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Kol again represented the SP from Robertsganj but was defeated by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Chhotelal Kharwar, who won the seat as part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's sweep in Uttar Pradesh. Kol's campaign focused on local issues pertaining to the Kol community and development in the Sonbhadra district-heavy constituency, though he trailed significantly in vote share amid the Modi wave.^[7][8] Kol switched allegiance to Apna Dal (Soneylal), a BJP ally representing Other Backward Classes interests, ahead of the 2019 elections. Contesting from Robertsganj under the National Democratic Alliance banner, he won with 447,691 votes, achieving a 51.09% vote share and defeating SP candidate Bhai Lal, who received 393,304 votes (44.89%). This victory marked his return to the Lok Sabha as a member of the 17th session.^[18][19] For the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Apna Dal (Soneylal) denied Kol the party ticket for Robertsganj, opting instead for Rinki Kol, citing internal party dynamics and preferences for younger leadership. Kol did not contest the seat independently or on another platform, contributing to the NDA's loss as SP's Chhotelal emerged victorious. The ticket denial stemmed from reported family and factional tensions within the party.^[15][20]

State Assembly Elections

Pakaudi Lal Kol was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Chhanbey constituency in the 2002 state assembly elections, contesting on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket.^[21] Chhanbey, located in Mirzapur district, was a general seat at the time, and Kol's victory marked his initial success at the state level amid BSP's efforts to consolidate support among Scheduled Castes and other marginalized communities in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The constituency was later abolished following the 2008 delimitation exercise, which redrew assembly boundaries. In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, Kol contested from the Chakia (SC) constituency in Chandauli district as a Samajwadi Party candidate.^[22] He secured 43,533 votes, accounting for 20.60% of the total valid votes polled, finishing second behind the Bahujan Samaj Party's Sharada Prasad, who won with 59,537 votes (28.17%).^[23] Chakia, a Scheduled Caste-reserved seat forming part of the Robertsganj Lok Sabha constituency, saw a voter turnout of approximately 64.24%, with the Bharatiya Janata Party emerging dominant in the overall state polls. Kol's performance reflected SP's challenges in retaining influence in the region against the BJP-led alliance's sweep, though it demonstrated residual support among Kol community voters. No further state assembly contests by Kol are recorded post-2017, as he focused on parliamentary bids thereafter.

Parliamentary Tenure and Roles

Key Positions Held

Pakaudi Lal Kol held the position of Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2003.^[1] He was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha in May 2009 as the representative for the Robertsganj Scheduled Caste reserved constituency in Uttar Pradesh.^[1] During this term, Kol served on the Committee on Industry, which examined matters related to industrial policy, production, and exports.^[1] Kol returned to Parliament as a Member of the 17th Lok Sabha after winning the Robertsganj seat in the 2019 general election with 447,914 votes, defeating the Samajwadi Party candidate by a margin of 54,336 votes.^{[24] [25]} In this term, he was appointed to the Standing Committee on External Affairs, contributing to deliberations on foreign policy, international relations, and diplomatic engagements.^[26]

Legislative Activities and Contributions

During his tenure in the 15th Lok Sabha (2009–2014), representing Robertsganj as a Samajwadi Party member, Pakauri Lal Kol maintained an attendance record of 85%, surpassing the national average of 76%.^[27] He participated in 19 debates and raised 61 questions in the Lok Sabha, focusing on constituency-specific issues such as improving healthcare facilities in district hospitals of the Robertsganj parliamentary constituency, as highlighted in a matter raised under Rule 377 on August 27, 2013.^[27] He introduced no private member's bills during this period.^[27] Kol served on the Committee on Industry during 2009 and the Committee on Coal and Steel from August 31, 2011, to August 30, 2012, addressing matters pertinent to Sonbhadra's mining-dependent economy.^[1] He also contributed to the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in 2011–2012, though specific interventions from these roles remain limited in public records.^[1] In the 17th Lok Sabha (2019–2024), as an Apna Dal (Soneylal member allied with the BJP, Kol's parliamentary engagement was notably lower, with participation in only 2 debates and no questions raised or private member's bills introduced.^[28] He was appointed to the Committee on External Affairs, contributing to deliberations on foreign policy and overseas Indian issues, including reviews of problems related to overseas Indian marriages from prior sessions.^[29] His activities emphasized local infrastructure advocacy, such as pushing for a bridge over the Sone River to benefit over 60 lakh people across four states, raised amid ongoing demands dating to the 1950s.^[30] Overall, Kol's legislative contributions centered on constituency development in a Scheduled Caste-reserved, tribal-heavy region rather than national-level bill sponsorship, reflecting a pattern of localized representation over broader policy initiation.^[27][28]

Controversies

Anti-Upper Caste Remarks

In October 2021, Pakaudi Lal Kol, the Apna Dal (Sonelal) Member of Parliament from the Robertsganj constituency, delivered remarks at a meeting of Kol community members in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh, where he used abusive language targeting upper castes, including Brahmins and Thakurs (Kshatriyas).^[31][32] The event occurred at a college or village gathering in the Babura Raghunath Singh area, and a video recording of the speech rapidly circulated on social media platforms, amplifying public outrage.^[31][33] The statements provoked immediate backlash from upper caste groups, who viewed them as inflammatory and divisive. Organizations such as the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha condemned the remarks, organizing protests that included effigy burnings in districts like Ballia and Sonbhadra, and submitting memorandums to local authorities demanding the registration of a sedition case against Kol and his son, Rahul Prakash Kol.^[32] Demonstrators in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra also called for Kol's expulsion from the Lok Sabha, citing the remarks as incitement against Scheduled Castes' traditional social superiors in the region's caste dynamics.^[32] Within Apna Dal (Sonelal), party president and Union Minister Anupriya Patel publicly denounced the comments via video message, directing Kol to issue an apology to mitigate damage to the party's broader National Democratic Alliance coalition, which relies on cross-caste support in Uttar Pradesh.^[31] Kol complied by apologizing to the public, though the gesture did little to quell demands for accountability from affected communities.^[32] The incident also prompted internal repercussions, including the resignation of the party's Bhadohi district general secretary, Vindhyavasini Prasad Upadhyay, in protest.^[32] Politically, the controversy eroded Kol's standing, contributing to Apna Dal (Sonelal)'s decision to deny him the 2024 Lok Sabha ticket for Robertsganj, a Scheduled Caste-reserved seat where upper caste voters form a significant bloc alongside Kol-dominated tribes.^[6][33] Instead, the party nominated his daughter-in-law, Rinki Kol, as candidate to preserve support among Kol voters while distancing from the alienation of Brahmins and Thakurs, whose resentment lingered into the election cycle.^[6][33] No formal legal action was reported against Kol following the protests.^[32]

Internal Party Conflicts and Ticket Denial

In the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Apna Dal (Soneylal) denied Pakaudi Lal Kol the party ticket for the Robertsganj constituency, opting instead to field his daughter-in-law, Rinki Kol, as the candidate.^[34][35] Kol, who had represented the seat as the incumbent MP since winning in 2019, expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, viewing it as a sidelining of his contributions to the party and the Kol community.^[36] Kol's opposition escalated into active interference during the campaign, as he reportedly conducted rallies and propagated messages in favor of the Samajwadi Party's candidate, Chhotelal Kol, while criticizing his own party's nominee.^[37][38] This internal discord contributed to Rinki Kol's defeat, with the Samajwadi Party securing 39.8% of the vote share against Apna Dal (Soneylal)'s 45.3% in 2019, amid shifting tribal and youth voter preferences in Sonbhadra district.^[39] Following the election loss on June 4, 2024, Apna Dal (Soneylal) leadership, including national secretary Munner Prajapati, issued a show-cause notice to Pakaudi Lal Kol on June 17, 2024, holding him accountable for undermining the campaign through anti-party activities and demanding an explanation within a stipulated period.^[37][39] The notice highlighted his refusal to support the official candidate and alleged deliberate efforts to engineer the defeat, exacerbating tensions within the NDA-allied outfit.^[38] The rift culminated in Kol's formal exit from Apna Dal (Soneylal) on January 12, 2025, when he announced the formation of the Vindhya Samta Mulak Samaj Party during a Kol community meeting in Deepnagar, Patpara block, Sonbhadra.^[40] He cited the ticket denial and subsequent party indifference to community interests as primary motivations, positioning the new outfit to advocate for Kol-dominated Vindhya region's developmental and representational needs independent of larger alliances.^[36] This schism underscored deeper factionalism in Apna Dal (Soneylal), particularly over seat allocations and influence in Scheduled Tribe-heavy constituencies like Robertsganj.^[41]

Family and Political Influence

Dynastic Elements

Pakaudi Lal Kol's political career has extended through familial involvement, exemplifying dynastic succession within the Kol community-dominated Robertsganj region of Uttar Pradesh. His elder son, Rahul Kol, entered electoral politics as a candidate for Apna Dal (Soneylal), securing the Chhanbey assembly seat in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections with 62,000 votes, representing the BJP-led alliance.^[42] Rahul Kol served as MLA until his death from cancer on February 2, 2023, at age 42, survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.^[43] Following Rahul's passing, his wife, Rinki Kol—Pakaudi Lal Kol's daughter-in-law—assumed the Chhanbey MLA position via by-election and was subsequently nominated by Apna Dal (Soneylal) as the BJP alliance candidate for the Robertsganj Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 general elections, aiming to consolidate family influence in the reserved constituency.^[6] Despite this, Rinki Kol received approximately 40% of votes but lost to the BSP candidate, while Pakaudi Lal Kol, contesting independently on an SP ticket, placed third with 135,966 votes (15.35% share).^{[15] [44]} Internal family dynamics surfaced during ticket allocation, as Pakaudi Lal Kol advocated for his younger son, Jagprakash Kol, over Rinki for the 2024 Lok Sabha nomination, reflecting efforts to perpetuate direct patrilineal control amid anti-incumbency against the incumbent MP.^[6] This pattern underscores a reliance on kinship ties to mobilize the Kol tribal base, which constitutes a significant voter bloc in Mirzapur district, though no prior generational involvement predating Pakaudi Lal Kol is documented. Pakaudi Lal Kol has two sons and five daughters, but only the sons and one daughter-in-law have pursued elected office.^[1]

Recent Family Involvement in Politics

Rahul Kol, the elder son of Pakaudi Lal Kol, represented the Chhanbey assembly constituency in Mirzapur district as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Apna Dal (Soneylal), having won the seat in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections.^[45] He died on February 2, 2023, at age 40 from cancer while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mumbai, leaving behind his wife Rinki Kol, one son, and two daughters.^[42] In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rinki Kol, Rahul's widow and Pakaudi Lal Kol's daughter-in-law, received the Apna Dal (Soneylal) nomination as the National Democratic Alliance candidate for the Robertsganj constituency, replacing her father-in-law who had held the seat in prior terms.^[46] She polled votes but was defeated by Samajwadi Party candidate Chhotelal Kharwar, who secured the constituency with a margin reflecting shifts in tribal and youth voter preferences.^[14] Pakaudi Lal Kol reportedly advocated within the party for his younger son, Jagprakash Kol, to contest the Robertsganj seat instead of Rinki Kol, citing community representation among Kol voters in the region.^[6] Following the loss, Apna Dal (Soneylal) leadership issued a show-cause notice to Pakaudi Lal Kol, blaming his limited constituency engagement for undermining the campaign.^[20] Jagprakash Kol maintains involvement in local BJP-Apna Dal activities in Mirzapur but has not secured a major elective office in recent cycles.