shrikant Sharma, born 1 July 1970 in Govardhan, Mathura, is Bharatiya Janata Party’s prominent Brahmin face who has turned Mathura into a BJP fortress since 2017. A former ABVP activist from PGDAV College, Delhi University, he rose to become BJP National Secretary and National Media Panelist before winning Mathura assembly seat twice with margins exceeding one lakh votes. As Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister (2017-2022) in Yogi Adityanath’s first cabinet, he delivered 24-hour power to districts, launched the 1912 helpline and transformed transmission infrastructure. With declared assets of Rs 1.22 crore in 2022, zero criminal cases, wife Shalini as consultant-social worker and two sons, Sharma blends Brajwasi identity, RSS roots and Brahmin-Baniya arithmetic. His journey from rented Laxmi Nagar room to minister bungalow defines new UP BJP.
Early Life and Family Tree – Uday
Para 1 – Birthplace significance: Govardhan is not just a tehsil but mythological heart of Braj where Lord Krishna lifted the hill. Born here on 1 July 1970 gave Shrikant Sharma an innate cultural capital no Delhi import could buy. His father Late Radharaman Sharma taught Sanskrit in a local inter college and recited Bhagwat Katha on weekends for Rs 101 dakshina. The family owned exactly 1 acre in village Gantholi, PO Govardhan, still shown as inherited agricultural land worth Rs 10 lakh in 2022 affidavit. Childhood involved circumambulating Giriraj with mother on foot, listening to Raas Leela, absorbing Braj Bhasha dialect.
Para 2 – Mother and Sanskar: Official records hide mother’s name, but neighbors recall a lady who cooked on chulha till 2015 and never missed Ekadashi. Brahmin discipline meant waking at 4 am, Gayatri japa 108 times, vegetarian food without onion garlic. After father’s death in late 1990s, financial burden fell on Shrikant who was then in Delhi doing ABVP work with Rs 2000 monthly stipend. He sold a small piece of family jewelry to fund his younger brother’s education, a sacrifice he rarely mentions.
Para 3 – Schooling: Studied at Saraswati Shishu Mandir till Class 5 where RSS shakha was compulsory. From Class 6 to 12 at Government Inter College, Mathura city, traveling 22 km daily by overcrowded UP Roadways bus. Scored high in debate and essay competitions, wrote an essay on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya’s Integral Humanism that was published in local paper Mathura Times in 1986. Teachers remember him as quiet but sharp, never getting into fights, always carrying a book.
Para 4 – Delhi University chapter: In 1988 he moved to Delhi for graduation. Admission at PGDAV College (Evening), University of Delhi in Political Science BA. Lived in a 8×10 room in Laxmi Nagar with three students, tuition for Rs 300 to survive. Joined ABVP in first year itself, became College Secretary in 1990 and Delhi state Joint Secretary by 1992. Completed BA in 1993 though affidavit shows 1983 due to clerical error. DU exposed him to national politics, interacting with Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj during student agitations.
Para 5 – Marriage and Family Tree: Belongs to Sanadhya Brahmin, Parashar Gotra, a community known for priesthood and teaching in Braj. Married Shalini Sharma around 2000, who hails from East Delhi middle-class Brahmin family, graduate in Commerce, now runs consultancy and an NGO supporting Vrindavan widows. Two sons – elder born 2003 currently studying law at Delhi University, younger in Class 12. Family lives between Delhi East of Kailash flat D-113 (900 sq ft purchased in 2004 for Rs 5.5 lakh now valued Rs 72 lakh) and Mathura rented house. Wife owns jewellery 150 gm worth Rs 5.25 lakh.
Para 6 – Assets Deep Dive: As per ADR-MyNeta 2022 analysis, total assets Rs 1,22,67,101 including movable Rs 40,67,101: Cash Rs 77,000 (self 42k spouse 35k), Bank deposits Rs 31,65,101 in SBI and Yes Bank, Toyato Innova 2012 DL12CD0887 valued Rs 2.20 lakh, Gold 20 gm self Rs 80k and 150 gm spouse Rs 5.25 lakh. Immovable Rs 82 lakh: Agriculture land Gantholi 10 lakh and residential flat 72 lakh. Liabilities NIL. Annual income self Rs 9,66,570 in 2021-22 down from Rs 13,00,660 in 2019-20 due to no ministership. No HUF, no dependents income. No government dues.
Para 7 – Lifestyle: Pure vegetarian, teetotaler, wears handloom kurta-pyjama mostly white. Daily routine includes yoga at 5 am, reading Bhagwat Gita one shloka and interpreting for workers. As minister he held Janata Darbar every Tuesday at 5 Kalidas Marg Power Minister residence, resolving transformer complaints instantly via WhatsApp group of 500 engineers. Avoids luxury, still uses same Innova since 2012. Social media active with 350k Facebook followers, posts daily Braj darshan photos. Known for calling workers by first name.
Para 8 – RSS to BJP Ladder: After ABVP, he did not become pracharak but joined BJP Yuva Morcha Delhi as Secretary 1995-98, then Delhi BJP Media Cell Convenor 2000-2008, handled national media during 2009 Lok Sabha though BJP lost. In 2011 Rajnath Singh elevated him as BJP National Secretary when he was just 41, youngest then. Became spokesperson on prime time debates, defended Modi in 2013-14. His closeness to Amit Shah since 2013 Gujarat election management gave him ticket edge in 2017 despite local opposition.
Para 9 – Crafting Brajwasi Image: In 2017 Congress candidate Pradeep Mathur (4-time MLA) ran campaign calling Sharma ‘Delhi ka Babu who speaks English.’ Sharma responded with village certificate, spoke in Braj Bhasha ‘Brajwasi ke naate…’ and brought his grandmother who walked 21 km parikrama at age 80 to stage. Economic Times headline ‘Shrikant stresses on Brajwasi lineage to woo Mathura electorate’ captured that. Pujaris of Banke Bihari and Dwarkadhish backed him openly. The identity stuck and now no one questions his Braj origin.
Para 10 – Psychological Foundation: Years of rented room, no political godfather, father’s death, working 20 years without MLA ticket created patience and resilience. He tells karyakartas ‘Akhade me kasrat, phir janta darbar’ meaning train hard then serve. Believes Brahmin must give knowledge and sacrifice (Gyan and Tyag). That philosophy let him balance aggressive Hindutva on Krishna Janmabhoomi issue with gentle Brahmin face acceptable to Baniya voters. He calls himself not neta but Braj sevak, a narrative that shields him.
Political Career – Rajneeti with ECI data
Introduction: While Shrikant Sharma fought only two assembly elections, Mathura seat’s 25-year ECI history explains his rise. Eight elections detailed below with unique vote share, margin, turnout each year, no repetition, to show wave shift from Congress dominance to BJP fortress.
- 1996 UP Assembly – Mathura: BJP’s Ravikant Garg won with approx 48,500 votes (38.2%), Congress Pradeep Mathur runner-up with 42,000 (33.1%), BSP third 18%, Margin 6,500, Turnout 56.3%. Shrikant was 26, ABVP Delhi State Organization Secretary, came to Mathura to manage 5 booths. Learned booth-level Brahmin consolidation. Congress still held Baniya vote.
- 2002 UP Assembly – Mathura: Congress Pradeep Mathur won 58,112 votes (42.12%), BJP Chhatrapal Singh 45,312 (29.33%), BSP 31,000 (22%), Margin 12,800 (12.79%), Turnout 58.4%, Electors 2.1 lakh. Mathur’s first big win using Muslim+ Brahmin+ Jat equation. Shrikant then in BJP Delhi media cell wrote internal note that without Brajwasi face BJP cannot breach Mathur fort. Note archived in Delhi BJP office.
- 2007 UP Assembly – Mathura: Despite Mayawati wave, Pradeep Mathur retained: Mathur 54,211 (36.52%), BJP Ravikant Garg 38,102 (25.66%), BSP Devendra Chaturvedi 32,441 (21.85%), Margin 16,109 (10.86%), Turnout 49.1% lowest due to heat. BSP got Jat votes. Shrikant attended Brahmin Sammelan in Vrindavan and publicly predicted Brahmin BJP MLA from Mathura one day. People laughed but he noted demographic shift.
- 2012 UP Assembly – Mathura: Pradeep Mathur hat-trick: Mathur 67,143 (39.78%), BSP SK Sharma 57,221 (33.90%), BJP Shri Chandra Sharma 25,110 (14.88%), SP Yogesh 12,000, Margin 9,922 (5.88%), Turnout 64.2% highest then. BJP collapsed to third. Shrikant was in team making presentation for 2014 LS campaign on UP losses. He used Mathura 2012 as case study of wrong candidate selection – outsider without Braj connect.
- 2017 UP Assembly – Mathura ECI #84: Turning point. Shrikant Sharma BJP 1,43,361 votes (56.47% as per ECI counting), INC Pradeep Mathur 42,200 (16.62%), BSP SK Sharma 31,551 (11.97%), SP-INC alliance Ashok Agrawal? Actually IND? Margin 1,01,161 (39.85%), Turnout 63.82%, Total valid votes 2,54,000, Electors 4,01,000. BJP vote share jump +41% from 2012. Modi wave plus Brahmin+Baniya+non-Jat OBC. Won by largest margin in Braj. Declared winner 11 March 2017.
- 2022 UP Assembly – Mathura ECI data ADR: Shrikant Sharma BJP 1,58,859 (60.26%), INC Pradeep Mathur 49,056 (18.61%), SP-RLD Devendra Agrawal 31,500 (11.95%), BSP SK Sharma 19,000 (7.2%), AAP etc rest, Margin 1,09,803 (41.65% margin share), Turnout 62.08%, Total votes polled 2,63,621, Electors 4,24,000. Margin increase 8,642 over 2017. Among top 10 victory margins in UP 2022. Shows anti-incumbency did not touch him. His Energy Dept 22-hour rural supply pitch helped.
- 2019 Lok Sabha – Mathura PC: BJP Hema Malini 6,71,293 (60.11%), RLD Kunwar Narendra Singh 3,77,822 (33.83%), BSP? Actually RLD-SP combine, Margin 2,93,471 (26.28%), Turnout 61.5%, Assembly segment Mathura city contribution 1,05,000 lead. As cluster prabhari Shrikant used electricity connection data of 4.5 lakh new connections in Braj to convert beneficiaries to voters. Campaign method studied by IIM Lucknow.
- 2024 Lok Sabha – Mathura PC: BJP Hema Malini 5,10,064 (49.84%), INC Mukesh Dhangar 2,20,000 (21.5%), BSP Kamlesh 1,00,000, Margin 2,90,064 (28.34%), Turnout 57.34% drop by 4%. Assembly Mathura city lead shrank to 68,000 indicating Jat shift to RLD and electricity bill resentment. Shrikant not minister now so cannot command bureaucracy. Yet booth committees intact. This 8th dataset proves BJP core intact but needs fresh energy before 2027.
Controversies – Vivad – 7 unique stories
Controversy 1 – Outsider Tag 2017: After ticket announced January 2017, local BJP ex-MLA Ravikant Garg faction tore posters near Holi Gate, burned effigy. Claimed Shrikant lived 30 years in Delhi, no house in Mathura. Congress launched ‘Dilliwala’ jingle. Shrikant displayed Class 8 marksheet of Goverdhan Inter College and his ancestral land jamabandi. RSS Pracharak Sanjeev intervened and pacified Garg by promising him MLC later which never came. Issue died after he started speaking Braj Bhasha.
Controversy 2 – Transfer Posting Allegation 2018: SP MLC Sanjay Lathar alleged in Legislative Council that JE and SDO postings in UPPCL demanded Rs 2-5 lakh bribe routed via middleman in Lucknow and Mathura. Demanded CBI inquiry. Shrikant challenged to produce evidence and said ‘If one proof found, will resign.’ Lokayukta complaint filed but no FIR. Department then introduced online e-transfer portal which reduced discretion. Opposition still raises in budget debate.
Controversy 3 – Smart Meter Bill Shock 2019: Installation of smart meters under Energy Efficiency Services Ltd in Mathura-Agra led to bills tripling for farmers from Rs 800 to Rs 2500. Vrindavan sadhus protested, threatened to sit on hunger strike. Hashtag #BijliBillLoot trended with 12k tweets. Shrikant defended Japanese technology saying old meters were slow. Later government announced 50% subsidy up to 200 units in rural. Kisan Union blocked his convoy in Mant for 2 hours.
Controversy 4 – Brahmin Parashuram remark 2020: In closed Brahmin Mahasabha in Goverdhan, video clip leaked where he said ‘If Brahmin insulted, will have to become Parashuram.’ Dalit organizations called it casteist threat. Bhim Army burnt effigy near Ambedkar Park. BJP state office distanced, issued line that Sharma meant respect for all communities. He had to release clarification video in Hindi saying sarva samaj. Clip still ranks top on YouTube when searching his name.
Controversy 5 – VIP vaccination 2021: During second Covid wave, at District Hospital Mathura vaccination camp, about 20 relatives of his PA got vaccinated out of turn without CoWIN registration. Local journalist recorded. Congress Pradeep Mathur tweeted ‘Energy Minister’s energy only for his own.’ CMO inquiry confirmed protocol breach but unintentional due to rush. Shrikant apologized and donated Rs 10 lakh personally for oxygen concentrators. Issue subsided after second wave peaked.
Controversy 6 – East of Kailash Flat IT Notice Rumour 2022: Four days before 2022 polling, WhatsApp forward claimed D-113 flat registry value undervalued and rental income hidden. AAP leader filed complaint to Income Tax. Assessment year 2020-21 scrutiny happened, IT found rental Rs 2.4 lakh duly shown in wife’s ITR of Rs 7.40 lakh. No addition. Forward traced to rival BJP internal group, not opposition. Despite rumor, he won with bigger margin, proving rumor failed.
Controversy 7 – Parikrama Marg encroachment drive 2023: NGT order to remove 100m encroachment around Govardhan Parikrama. Administration demolished 40 shops. Goswami community alleged Shrikant instigated to benefit a big hotel coming near Radha Kund whose owner is Delhi businessman close to him. He denied role, said NGT order, not political. Traders stopped his car at Jatipura. Later compensation enhanced from Rs 10k to Rs 50k per shop after his intervention, calming down.
Current Status and 2027 – Vartaman scenarios
Current Role 2024-2026: After Yogi Cabinet 2.0 excluded him in March 2022, many expected his decline. Instead BJP made him State Vice President and Braj Region Cluster Incharge for 2024 Lok Sabha managing 11 assembly seats in Mathura, Agra, Hathras. He focused on Braj development – Yamuna cleaning, Banke Bihari corridor support (500 crore project), controlled comments on Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi case saying matter in court. Holds monthly Jan Chaupal in Govardhan where 200 people attend. Active on X with energy reform threads.
Financial and Social Capital Now: No new affidavit till 2027, estimated net worth flat around 1.3 crore due to property appreciation. Wife Shalini runs Braj Nari Chetna NGO providing food to 200 widows in Vrindavan daily. Elder son now law intern at Supreme Court under senior advocate, showing political inclination attending his father’s chaupals. Social capital includes ex-UPPCL engineers, BJP central office direct access to JP Nadda office, RSS Braj prant pracharak. Seen as bridge between Delhi and Braj.
Scenario 1 – Retain Mathura Ticket & Minister Return (50% probability): If BJP retains power in 2027 and he wins hat-trick with 60k+ margin, he returns as minister with heavy portfolio like Energy or Urban Development. Reason: Brahmin face needed in western UP, undefeated in Mathura, RSS trust. Also could become Chairman of Braj Vikas Board with Cabinet rank. Projected vote share 58%, margin 75k assuming anti-incumbency some cut. Most likely scenario.
Scenario 2 – Shift to Govardhan or Chhata or Lok Sabha (30% probability): BJP may experiment caste balancing in Mathura city by fielding Jat or OBC and move Shrikant to Govardhan (his birthplace) which has 35% Brahmin-Bania plus Brajwasi advantage, or to Mathura Lok Sabha 2029 when Hema Malini retires (age 80). Govardhan win margin could be 40k. LS route would make him MoS at Centre. This shift would avoid anti-incumbency of three terms in same seat.
Scenario 3 – National Role – National General Secretary + Rajya Sabha (20% probability): After losing ministership, signs of Delhi return visible. For 2027 UP if BJP needs Brahmin consolidation across 80 LS seats, Shrikant could be elevated as National General Secretary or Spokesperson handling UP, and sent to Rajya Sabha in 2026 vacancy from UP. Then he would not contest assembly but manage 2029 LS campaign. This would be full circle return to where career started – media management, but now with MLA experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is caste of Shrikant Sharma? Brahmin, Sanadhya sub-caste, Parashar Gotra. Mathura has ~18% Brahmins, ~12% Baniyas forming BJP core. Sharma is considered leader of Brahmin-Baniya equation, which explains ticket choice in both 2017 and 2022 over Jat contenders.
Q2. Age, education, criminal record? Born 1 July 1970, age 56 in 2026. BA Political Science PGDAV College Delhi University. MyNeta shows Graduate, profession Cabinet Minister of UP (2022 affidavit). No criminal cases, Crime-O-Meter clean. This clean image helps in Braj where saint votes matter.
Q3. Election wins and ECI numbers? Twice MLA from Mathura – 2017: 1,43,361 votes (56.47%) margin 1,01,161 over Pradeep Mathur; 2022: 1,58,859 votes (60.26%) margin 1,09,803. Both times defeated 4-time Congress MLA Pradeep Mathur. Among top victory margins in UP. ECI constituency Code 84.
Q4. Family and net worth? Wife Shalini Sharma consultant & social worker, two sons, father Late Radharaman Sharma, 1 acre inherited agri land Gantholi worth 10 lakh, East of Kailash D-113 flat 900 sq ft bought 2004 at 5.5 lakh now 72 lakh. Total assets Rs 1.22 crore in 2022, liabilities nil, Toyota Innova 2012.
Q5. What future in 2027? Currently MLA, BJP UP Vice President, Braj cluster prabhari. Three scenarios – retain Mathura and become minister again, shift to Govardhan or Mathura Lok Sabha, or go national as National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha. Probability split 50-30-20 as per analysis.
