Rajiv Pratap Rudy’s political influence has been a constant at the Constitution Club, and his recent victory against Sanjeev Balyan reinforces his enduring dominance. This win follows unopposed victories in 2009, 2014, and 2019, showcasing Rudy’s consistent presence. As a five-time Lok Sabha member, Rudy faced a notable challenge this time from his own party colleague, Sanjeev Balyan. Rudy’s long tenure as secretary, spanning 25 years, underscores his significant role in the club.
The club’s initial operations were modest, but a turning point came in 1998-99 when then Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi established a vision committee. Rudy, a prominent BJP leader and seven-time MP from Saran, Bihar, was subsequently appointed as the secretary (administration) of the club.
Under the leadership of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, an election-based system was introduced, and the club’s bylaws were approved on August 2, 2008. The first election for the governing council was then held on February 18, 2009.
Born on March 30, 1962, Rudy has a distinguished political career, including defeating Rabri Devi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Before entering politics, Rudy was a lecturer at AN College in Patna. He was active in student politics before becoming a lecturer.
His political journey began in 1990 when he was elected as an MLA from the Taraiya assembly at the age of 28. In 1996, he won a Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket. In 1999, he was re-elected and appointed as Minister of State for Commerce and Industry. Later, he was given independent charge of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
In 2008, he became a Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar and returned to the Lok Sabha in 2014, defeating Rabri Devi in Saran. On November 9, 2014, he joined the Union Cabinet as Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge). In 2019, he defeated Chandrika Rai, and in the 2024 election, he secured another victory despite facing Lalu Yadav’s daughter, Rohini Acharya.
Rudy attended St. Michael’s High School and later completed pre-university and pre-engineering at DAV College in Chandigarh. He earned a BA (Honors) in Economics from Government College, Chandigarh, and holds a law degree from Punjab University (1985) and a post-graduate degree in Economics from Magadh University (1987).
Rudy is also a trained pilot, holding a commercial pilot license. He trained to fly the A-320 aircraft at SimCenter in Miami, Florida, approved by the FAA. He frequently flies from Patna to Delhi.
The Constitution Club of India, often referred to as a mini-parliament, was established in 1947 for dialogue among Constituent Assembly members. It later evolved into a club for MPs. Its formal structure was established in 1965 with President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s inauguration, serving as a center for activities and interactions among current MPs.