The definition of democracy is taught in school textbooks. “To the people, for the people, by the people” means democracy is from the people. Yesterday, this adage proved to be true at Raj Bhavan in Madhya Pradesh when the name of Sampatiya Uikey was called by the announcer to take the oath of cabinet minister.
56-year-old Uikey is a prominent tribal woman leader of Madhya Pradesh BJP. She has also been a Rajya Sabha MP, her tenure ended only a few months ago. Along with this, Sampatya Uikey’s political career went through a lot of struggles. She has experienced poverty very closely.
After this, she contested the election of Sarpanch from Gram Panchayat Tikarwara in 1999 and registered a big victory. From here she enters politics, after which she never looks back.
Sampatiya Uikey, who studied till higher secondary despite poverty, was born in a very ordinary family. Even after marriage in 1990 at the age of 23, life went through difficulties. Before coming into politics, she used to support her family by working as a daily wage labourer in the brick kilns of Mandla. After that, she has also taught children at Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Tikarwada for some time.
She has seen many ups and downs in life at a young age. Her husband Sanjay Uikey died of a heart attack in August 2013. This year, the party had given him ticket from Mandla seat, but at that time she had to face defeat. Sampatiya Uikey, mother of four children, always keeps a low profile and simplicity. His elder daughter Shraddha Suman Kurveti is also the Sarpanch of Tikarwara.
Held District Panchayat President Post thrice
Sampatiya Uikey has also been a Rajya Sabha MP and District Panchayat President thrice. From 2003 to 2017, she has also been the District Panchayat President for three consecutive times. After that, in 2017, she was elected as a member of Rajya Sabha. In the 2023 Assembly elections, he has defeated Dr. Ashok Marskole of Congress from Mandla Assembly seat by a huge margin. The party high command had expressed confidence in Sampatiya by setting aside the claims of many veterans.
Became Cabinet Minister
Sampatiya Uikey, who won the assembly elections for the first time, has been made a minister by side lining many veteran women leaders. Governor Mangu Bhai Patel administered her the oath of office and secrecy of the Cabinet Minister.
