Rajeev Rai: Samajwadi Party (SP), Ghosi, Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituency, Uttar Pradesh (U.P)
By Manjunath K. Shresthi
youtube.com/@theflagpost
March 21, 2026
Uttar Pradesh is one of India’s largest states with 403 assembly segments, and 80 Lok Sabha seats in Parliament. In the keenly contested Lok Sabha elections of 2024, the Samjwadi Party (SP) put up a spirited fight against the saffron party. The BJP fared badly and the SP won a total of 37 Lok Sabha
seats. The SP carefully chose its candidates and ensured their victory.
Rajeev Kumar Rai is an Indian politician, educationist, businessman, and philanthropist. He is currently serving as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha, representing the Ghosi Lok Sabha constituency, elected in the 2024 Indian general elections. His victory was a result of his strong connection with the masses since his political debut in 2014. The electorate supported his vision and his emphasis on rural and regional development. He was born in a small village of Ballia district, in eastern Uttar Pradesh. He began his career in India’s IT capital Bengaluru as an educationist and a businessman. He’s been the Chairman of the AVK group of institutions since the year 2000, and it imparts quality education. The focus area of his educational group has been in acquiring established schools, colleges and degree colleges. They have also expanded into nursing and pharmacy institutes.
He is the party’s national secretary; and a prominent face when interacting with the media as its spokesperson. He has been a part of ‘Team Akhilesh’ in the past and continues in the same role even now. He’s a grassroots politician associated with SP since long. He first contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Ghosi and lost. In 2019, he didn’t contest. Known for his political acumen, communication skills and as a strategist. He played a crucial role in the SP’s absolute victory in the 2012 assembly elections. But his moment of glory was in 2024 elections, where he won with a significant victory margin of 1,62,943 votes in the 18 th Lok Sabha.
Mr. Rajeev Rai, briefly spoke to Manjunath of the The Flag Post, at his Ashoka road residence, New Delhi. The discussion was on a wide array of subjects during the second leg of the budget session which resumed on March 09.
The Flag Post (TFP): Your thoughts about the ongoing Parliamentary session?
About Ghosi constituency: It’s a large constituency and I have excellent knowledge of the entire constituency and other areas, and have built 12 years of grassroots connect with the people. The MPLADS funds in Ghosi have been utilised in getting light connections; building proper roads and drains; and also helping build the Kasturbha school and community centres in my parliamentary constituency. In the last two and a half years, we have also started three coaching centres for job seekers in army, paramilitary and other recruitment centres.
Rajeev Rai (RR): The opposition demanded a discussion on the continuing West Asia crisis and expected the External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, to at least condemn the killing of the Iranian supreme leader on February 28. The government did not even have the basic courtesy to do that and when they did, it was already too late.
The Flag Post (TFP): your views on the administration of CM Yogi Adityanath ?
Rajeev Rai (RR): The Yogi government is in its last phase and is busy signing MoUs with Japan. The SP leader added that it expects the BJP to issue a white paper on work done by it since 2022. There is massive unemployment in the large state; caste discrimination happening at all levels along with the other crisis in the state. The health centres are non-functional and most of the hospitals are getting closed. The ruling BJP is continuing in power through propaganda. And the SP has reasons to believe that even 10% of the actual work promised has not materialised till date. And there are numerous cases of corruption in the administration about which the public should know.
The Flag Post (TFP): It has been one full decade since the SP has been out of power in the state? What are the party’s poll prospects in the upcoming assembly elections due in 2027, and how do you plan to catch the imagination of the masses?
Rajeev Rai (RR): We are working hard and are confident of winning 250-270 seats in the 403 members’ house. Our manifesto is work in progress and it will be released before the election. We are getting continuous feedback from the party office in every district headquarter in the state.
