Mahant Avaidyanath

Mahant Avaidyanath
Member of Parliament
Constituency	Gorakhpur
Member of Legislative Assembly
Constituency	Maniram
Personal details
Born	28 May 1921
Died	12 September 2014 (aged 93) Gorakhpur
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Occupation	Politician
Religion	Hindu

Mahant Avaidyanath (28 May 1921 – 12 September 2014) was a Hindu leader and politician. He was the teacher and predecessor of Yogi Adityanath the present MP of Gorakhpur. He was also elected to Lok Sabha from Gorakhpur (Lok Sabha Constituency) for four times. He was the Mahant (chief priest) of Gorakhnath Temple. He played an important role in Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He was political Guru of incumbent Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath.^[1]

Career

Avaidyanath was elected MLA from Maniram Assembly segment five times – 1962, 1967, 1969, 1974 and 1977. He was elected Lok Sabha member from Gorakhpur as an Independent candidate in 1970 and won again in 1989 as candidate of Hindu Mahasabha. He was elected MP from the same seat in 1991 and 1996 as Bharatiya Janata Party nominee.^[2]

Death

He died^[3] on 12 September 2014 in Gorakhpur.^[4][5][6][7] Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi said he was "Saddened over the demise of Mahant Avaidyanath ji. He will be remembered for his patriotic zeal and determined efforts to serve society."

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and UP BJP president Laxmikant Bajpai also sent condolences on his death.^[8]

Commemoration

A stamp is being released to mark the first death anniversary of Avaidyanath, who was also father and guru of sitting BJP MP from Gorakhpur Yogi Adityanath. He died on 12th September 2014 at the age of 95.

References

1. TOI
2. "Ram Temple movement leader Avaidyanath passes away". Indian Express. 13 Sep 2014.
3. "Mahant Avaidyanath passes away". Yahoo! News. 13 Sep 2014.
4. "गोरक्षापीठाधीश्वर महंत अवेद्यनाथ का निधन". Jagran (in Hindi). 12 Sep 2014.
5. "श्रीरामजन्मभूमि आंदोलन के नेता महंत अवेद्यनाथ ब्रह्मलीन". Live Hindustan (in Hindi). 12 Sep 2014.
6. "काशी के संतों ने कहा, समाज के लिए गौरव थे अवेद्यनाथ". Live Hindustan (in Hindi). 12 Sep 2014.
7. "पूर्व भाजपा सांसद व गोरक्षापीठाधीश्‍वर महंत अवेद्यनाथ का निधन". Prabhakar Khabar (in Hindi). 12 Sep 2014. zero width joiner character in |title= at position 36 (help)
8. "Former MP Mahant Avaidyanath passes away". Zee News. 13 Sep 2014.