In Kaithal, a scion rise: At 25, youngest MLA-elect Aditya Surjewala revives family legacy
With his decisive victory, Aditya has taken a revenge over BJP veteran Leela Ram who had termed him a 'videshi', and had earlier defeated his father Randeep in 2019.
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An alumnus of The International School, Bengaluru, Aditya secured a degree in operations and logistics management from the University of British Columbia in Canada before deciding to step into the political arena. (Photo: X/ @adityasurjewala)Haryana Tuesday witnessed yet another scion’s rise with Aditya Surjewala, son of Congress Rajya Sabha member Randeep Singh Surjewala, sealing a decisive victory from Kaithal Assembly constituency, defeating BJP veteran and three-time MLA Leela Ram by a margin of 8,124 votes. At 25, Aditya is the youngest to be elected to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.
A third generation politician, he is also the third member of the Surjewala family to be elected from Kaithal, an assembly seat that had earlier been represented by his grandfather, the late Shamsher Singh Surjewala, and father.
An alumnus of The International School, Bengaluru, Aditya secured a degree in operations and logistics management from the University of British Columbia in Canada before deciding to step into the political arena.
“My degree taught me a lot about how different governments and bureaucracies function. This experience from Canada will help me bring a fresh perspective to Kaithal’s development,” he said.
Kaithal holds a special place in the Surjewala family. Aditya’s grandfather Shamsher Singh was a four-time MLA from Narwana and represented Kaithal in 2005. His father, Randeep, won the seat in 2009 and 2014, though he lost to Leela Ram in 2019 state polls. With his win, Aditya has not only silenced Leela Ram, who referred to him as a ‘videshi (foreigner)’ during the campaign, but also revived his family’s legacy in Kaithal.
During his campaign, Aditya emphasised tackling issues such as hooliganism and improving the local economy. He pointed out how many students were leaving Kaithal in search of better opportunities, a trend he wishes to reverse. “Our fight is against the hooliganism and hatred that have spread here. I want to put Kaithal back on the path of progress. Too many students are leaving for better opportunities—I aim to change that,” Aditya said during a roadshow following his victory. He also addressed the need for better infrastructure and safety, recalling a time when Kaithal’s streets were well-lit and safe for women, contrasting this with the insecurity, he feels, has grown over the past decade of BJP rule.
During his campaign, Aditya and accused the BJP of running a “40 per cent commission government”. “If anyone had to get work done under this government, they had to pay a 40-50 per cent bribe, and even then, the work wasn’t guaranteed,” he had charged.
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