Rita Bahuguna Joshi

Born in 1949, Joshi hails from a distinguished political family. Her father, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. This legacy heavily influenced her path, leading her to enter politics in 1985 with the Samajwadi Party. She soon switched allegiance to the Congress party, where she carved a niche for herself.

Joshi's early political career saw her holding the post of Mayor of Allahabad from 1995 to 2000. She went on to serve as the President of the All India Mahila Congress and later, the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, rising through the ranks to become a prominent figure in the party. Despite contesting unsuccessfully for the Lok Sabha twice, she managed to win a seat in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 2012.

However, a surprising move came in 2016 when Joshi left the Congress to join the BJP. This switch, seen by many as a strategic move, fueled speculation and debate. While some saw it as an opportunist manoeuvre, others pointed to ideological differences with the Congress leadership.

She won the 2019 Lok Sabha election on BJP's ticket from the Allahabad Lok Sabha constituency but was dropped from BJP's candidate list for the 2024 General Elections.