Rajiv Pratap Rudy was born to Vishwanath Singh and Prabha Singh on 30 March 1962 in Patna, Bihar. His ancestral village is Amnour, Saran, Bihar. Rudy completed his school education from St. Michael's High School, Patna. Later, he completed his pre-university and pre-engineering from DAV College, Chandigarh in Sector 10. Rudy completed his graduation in B.A in Economics at Government College, Chandigarh, Sector 11. Rudy completed a degree in Law from Panjab University in 1985 and did post-graduation in Economics from Magadh University in 1987. Rudy was a lecturer of Economics in A.N. College, Patna prior to entering politics, but he had been involved in student politics while at Panjab University Campus, Sector 14, Chandigarh and in Government College, Sector, 11, Chandigarh, which is affiliated to Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Political career
Rudy was the campaign in charge of Harmohan Dhawan, who was contesting from the Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency in 1989. He was actively associated with former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar. Rudy was first elected in 1990 as a Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Janata Dal ticket from Taraiya at the age of 28. He was elected to the Lok Sabha - the lower house of the Parliament of India - as a candidate of the BJP. He was re–elected for a second term of Lok Sabha in 1999, from Chapra for BJP. He served as the Minister of State for Commerce, Trade & Industry and subsequently became Civil Aviation Minister with independent charge in the National Democratic Alliance government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During that tenure, Rudy was in controversy of non-payment of his bills at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa, which he had to later pay. Rudy had earlier held the post of National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. He was a General Secretary and member of the BJP National Executive. Rudy lost to Lalu Prasad in 2004 General elections in Chapra. He was elected to Rajya Sabha from Bihar in 2010. He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections from Saran and defeated former Chief Minister of Bihar, Rabri Devi. He was sworn-in as Minister of State on 9 November 2014 and got Minister of State of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. In October 2015, Rajiv Pratap Rudy was in a controversy over sharing on Twitter a screenshot of Pakistan's daily Dawn website carrying Nitish Kumar's ad of vote appeal during 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, prompting JD to launch a sharp attack on him and seek his immediate sacking. He submitted his resignation from the cabinet on 31/8/2017 prior to imminent reshuffle on 2/9/2017.
Personal life
Rudy married Neelam Pratap on 9 March 1991 at the age of 29. They have two daughters. Elder daughter Avshreya Rudy is a lawyer and also a polo player His younger daughter Atisha Pratap Singh is a kuchipudi dancer.
