India’s 1st Cow Minister defeated in Rajasthan

December 12: India’s first Cow Minister, Otaram Dewasi (48) from Rajasthan loses to independent candidate Sanyam Lodha with a margin of 10,253 votes. BJP and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had promised a separate ministry for cows in its poll manifesto. With Raje’s victory as CM in December 2013, a separate ministry was created for the protection of cow considered to hold spiritual importance.

In 2015, Rajasthan had created history by appointing a minister dedicated to cow welfare. Otaram Dewasi was appointed as the Minister of Gaupalan Department, Government of Rajasthan, making him the first ever cow minister in India. On Tuesday, Dewasi who was seeking a re-election from Sirohi in the assembly was handed down a crushing defeat.

According to information posted on his website, Otaram Dewasi is a resident of Mundara village under Sumerpur assembly constituency, Pali district. Dewasi, a former Rajasthan Cop-turned “Mahant” at Mundara Mata Temple lost to independent candidate Sanyam Lodha. Lodha, a former Congressman who contested as independent got 81,272 votes while the incumbent minister managed to 71,019 votes.

While Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje won the Jhalarapatan assembly constituency for the fifth consecutive term on Tuesday, defeating Congress candidate Manvendra Singh, the poll result for the state swung largely in favour of Congress.