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'{{Short description|Indian politician (born 1974)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Sambit Patra | image = | imagesize = | caption | nick name = | office = National Spokesperson [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] | term_start = 2014 | term_end = | party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] | office1 = Chairman of [[India Tourism Development Corporation]] | term_start1 = 30 November 2021 | term_end1 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|12|13|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Bokaro district|Bokaro]], [[Bihar]] (now [[Jharkhand]]), India | occupation = {{hlist|Surgeon|politician}} | alma_mater = {{Plainlist| *[[Royal College of Surgeons of England]], [[London]] (MRCS)<ref name=qualification>{{cite news |title=Sambit Patra, furious over the question of being made the chairman of ITDC, said - now the thesis will ask the qualification of UPSC people? |url=https://www.aajtak.in/events/agenda-aaj-tak/story/sambit-patra-shows-anger-on-kanhaiya-kumar-itdc-chairman-question-told-his-qualification-at-at-agenda-2021-lbs-1367155-2021-12-03 |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=Aaj Tak |date=3 December 2021}}</ref> *[[Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital]], [[Cuttack]] ([[Master of Surgery|M.S]]) *[[Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research]], [[Sambalpur]] ([[Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery|M.B.B.S]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/sambit-patra-turns-46-tracing-the-political-journey-of-bjp-spokesperson|title=Sambit Patra turns 46: Tracing the political journey of BJP spokesperson|access-date=11 December 2020}}</ref> }} }} '''Sambit Patra''' (born 13 December 1974) is an Indian politician and surgeon who has served as the national spokesperson of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] since 2014 and currently serving as a chairman in tourism department.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjp.org/organisation/office-bearers|title=National Office Bearers|last=Administrator|website=www.bjp.org|access-date=25 March 2018|archive-date=22 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022002728/http://www.bjp.org/organisation/office-bearers|url-status=dead}}</ref> Patra had his first job at Hindu Rao Hospital. He was appointed an independent director<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ongcindia.com/wps/wcm/connect/en/about-ongc/board-of-directors/|title=ONGC - Board of Directors|last=Limited|first=Oil and Natural Gas Corporation|website=www.ongcindia.com|language=en|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> of the board of [[Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited]] (ONGC) in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url =https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/sambit-patra-to-be-up-for-reappointment-on-ongc-board/article24874234.ece|title=Sambit Patra to be up for reappointment on ONGC board|date=25 January 2019|publisher =Business Line|website =thehindubusinessline.com|access-date =11 April 2020|quote =Patra was appointed as an Independent Director on the ONGC board on October 28 last year.}}</ref><ref name=BB>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=541967406&privcapId=882940|title=Oil & Natural Gas Corp Ltd (ONGC:Natl India)|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=17 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325013841/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=541967406&privcapId=882940 |archive-date=25 March 2019}}</ref> On 30 November 2021, Patra was appointed Chairman of the [[India Tourism Development Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sambit Patra appointed as Chairman of ITDC|url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/sambit-patra-appointed-as-chairman-of-itdc/article37801338.ece|work=The Hindu|date=2 December 2021 |access-date=5 December 2021}}</ref> ==Early life == Patra was born in an [[Odia people|Odia]] family<ref>{{cite tweet|user=sambitswaraj|number=466080763784355840|title=Yes I am an Oriya :)) "@vivek5677: @sambitswaraj sir u r an oriya.orissa desperately need a leader/good orator like u."|date=13 May 2014|access-date=27 October 2020}}</ref> to Rabindra Nath Patra on 13 December 1974 in [[Bokaro Steel City]], then part of [[Dhanbad district]] of the state of [[Bihar]], which is now a part of [[Bokaro district]] of [[Jharkhand]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sambit Patra(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- PURI(ODISHA) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=http://myneta.info/LokSabha2019/candidate.php?candidate_id=7865 |website=myneta.info |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="Bokaro"/> His father worked in the [[Bokaro Steel Plant]]. He did his primary and intermediate schooling in Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Bokaro.<ref name="Bokaro">{{cite news |title=जानें क्‍या है भाजपा प्रवक्‍ता संबित पात्रा का धनबाद कनेक्‍शन, टिकट के दावेदारों में उछला नाम |url=https://www.jagran.com/jharkhand/dhanbad-bjp-spokesperson-sambit-patra-is-connected-to-dhanbad-and-bokaro-too-on-emotional-leval-18936048.html |access-date=18 January 2020 |work=Dainik Jagran |date=10 February 2019 |language=hi}}</ref> He did his MBBS from [[Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research]], Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha in 1997 and his Master of Surgery (MS) in General Surgery from [[Shri Ramachandra Bhanj Medical College]], Cuttack, [[Utkal University]] in 2002.<ref name="Bokaro"/><ref name=BB /> Patra had qualified [[Combined Medical Services Examination]] conducted by the [[Union Public Service Commission|UPSC]] in 2003 and joined Hindu Rao Hospital as a medical officer.<ref name=qualification /> ==Political career== Patra's political career started in 2010 when he joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) as a spokesperson for its Delhi unit. In 2012, Patra lost the municipal election as the BJP's candidate from Delhi's Kashmiri Gate<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/903a5d004af0bcb68345bf926f0f9a50/Ward-77.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&lmod=-1011637630|title=Ward Wise Result Sheet MCD General Election -2012 Total Votes Polled|website=webcache.googleusercontent.com|access-date=25 March 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519134509/http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/903a5d004af0bcb68345bf926f0f9a50/Ward-77.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&lmod=-1011637630|archive-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> and at the same time resigned from his job to pursue politics full-time. In the run-up to the [[Lok Sabha]] elections in 2014, Patra campaigned for the BJP and gained visibility on national television. When the BJP came to power, Patra became its national spokesperson.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/is-sambit-patra-helping-bjp-s-image-115122500521_1.html|title=Is Sambit Patra helping BJP's image?|last=Saini|first=Shivam|date=26 December 2015|newspaper=Business Standard India|access-date=24 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/the-journey-of-bjps-sambit-patra-from-a-trained-surgeon-to-a-nasty-tv-star/167544/|title=The journey of BJP's Sambit Patra from a trained surgeon to a nasty TV star|first=Kaveree|last=Bamzai|date=22 December 2018|access-date=14 February 2020|publisher=[[ThePrint]]}}</ref> In 2017, [[Appointments Committee of the Cabinet]] (ACC) appointed him as a non-official director of ONGC.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/bjp-s-sambit-patra-appointed-to-ongc-board/story-5Pp6Phv0zGHeOz0clmEWeJ.html |title=BJP's Sambit Patra appointed to ONGC board |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |author=Press Trust of India |date=30 September 2017 |access-date=6 December 2018|author-link=Press Trust of India }}</ref> Patra contested the [[Puri Lok Sabha constituency|Puri]] Lok Sabha seat in the [[2019 Indian general election]], and lost to sitting [[Biju Janata Dal]] (BJD) member [[Pinaki Misra]] by 11,700 votes or 1.03% margin.<ref>{{cite news |title=Puri election result: Sambit Patra loses a close fight with Pinaki Misra |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/puri-lok-sabha-election-results-live/articleshow/69442742.cms |work=[[The Economic Times]] |agency=TNN |date=24 May 2019 |access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref> ==Controversies== In September 2017, Patra was appointed an [[Independent director|independent]]/Non-Official Director ([[Independent director|NOD]]) of the [[Oil and Natural Gas Corporation|Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd]] (ONGC) Board for a renewable term of three years. Him being an active member and official spokesperson of the ruling party ([[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]) was viewed as a violation of the companies act and subsequently challenged in the [[Delhi High Court]] by Energy Watchdog ([[Non-governmental organization|NGO]]). The petition also alleged the entire selection process to be "flawed".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Indian|first=The Logical|date=7 March 2018|title=Sambit Patra Appointed As Independent Director Of ONGC, Supreme Court Asks Centre Why|url=https://thelogicalindian.com/news/sambit-patra-appointed-as-independent-director-of-ongc-supreme-court-asks-centre-why/|access-date=3 July 2020|website=thelogicalindian.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=30 September 2017|title=BJP's Sambit Patra appointed to ONGC board|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/bjp-s-sambit-patra-appointed-to-ongc-board/story-5Pp6Phv0zGHeOz0clmEWeJ.html|access-date=3 July 2020|work=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=25 October 2017|title=Sambit Patra's appointment to ONGC Board challenged in High Court|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/sambit-patras-appointment-to-ongc-board-challenged-in-high-court/articleshow/61216692.cms?from=mdr|access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> In November 2017, The Delhi High Court dismissed the [[Public interest litigation in India|PIL]] on grounds of it being "Unsubstantiated" and "Without Merit". The court also stated that questioning Patra's independence to discharge his official duties as an independent director merely on his association with the ruling party (BJP) would be "Highly Inappropriate".<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 November 2017|title=Relief to Sambit Patra:HC rejected PIL against his appointment as ONGC director|url=https://www.indiawhispers.com/2017/11/06/relief-sambit-patrahc-rejected-pil-appointment-ongc-director/|access-date=3 July 2020|website=India Whispers|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=6 November 2017|title=HC rejects PIL challenging Sambit Patra's appointment in ONGC|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/hc-not-to-interfere-with-sambit-patras-appointment-as-ongc-director/articleshow/61526916.cms|access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> Later, the Supreme Court asked the NGO who filed the PIL to "Serve a copy to the Union of India". The SC Bench posted the matter for a later date and mentioned "After hearing preliminary arguments, we can issue formal notice."<ref>{{Cite news|title=SC to hear Centre's reply to plea challenging BJP leader Sambit Patra's appointment to ONGC board|url=https://scroll.in/latest/871009/sc-to-hear-centres-reply-to-plea-challenging-bjp-leader-sambit-patras-appointment-to-ongc-board|access-date=3 July 2020|work=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref> In February 2020, Patra tweeted a fake video of ex-INC MLA Naseem Khan chanting 'Pakistan Zindabad', which made the latter file a police complaint against Patra in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theprint.in/hoaxposed/sambit-patra-shares-fake-video-of-ex-congress-mla-asks-followers-to-fact-check-it/361630/|title=Sambit Patra shares fake video of ex-Congress MLA & asks followers to fact-check it|first=Kairvy|last=Grewal|date=7 February 2020|access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Stop editing videos': Twitter slams Sambit Patra for sharing Cong leader's fake 'Pakistan Zindabad' video |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/stop-editing-videos-twitter-slams-sambit-patra-for-sharing-cong-leaders-fake-pakistan-zindabad-video |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=Free Press Journal |date=7 February 2020}}</ref> On 18 May, a tweet by Patra, which included pictures of a document "toolkit" containing social media measures allegedly used by the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] to hurt Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]'s image during the second wave of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 pandemic]], was flagged by Twitter as manipulated media.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/twitter-flags-sambit-patras-tweet-on-congress-toolkit-as-manipulated-media/article34611486.ece|title=Twitter flags Sambit Patra's tweet on Congress 'toolkit' as manipulated media|newspaper=The Hindu |date=21 May 2021|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> This decision by Twitter was possibly in response to the Congress lodging a complaint with Twitter's California headquarters to suspend accounts for prominent BJP leaders for allegedly "spreading misinformation and unrest in the society".<ref name="theprint.in">{{cite news |last1=Arnimesh |first1=Shanker |title=Ministry warning to Twitter over Sambit Patra 'toolkit' tweet was sent after BJP sought action |url=https://theprint.in/politics/ministry-warning-to-twitter-over-sambit-patra-toolkit-tweet-was-sent-after-bjp-sought-action/663373/ |access-date=15 August 2022 |work=ThePrint |date=22 May 2021}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]] responded with a letter to Twitter alleging unilateral, arbitrary and politically biased decision on Twitter's part in passing judgement on Patra's case, which was under investigation.<ref name="theprint.in"/> Patra was among two doctors under the Delhi Medical Council scanner for alleged negligence in post-operative care. The complaint dated 1 August 2014 is “under consideration”, according to the council's website.<ref name="economictimes.com">{{cite news |last1=Venugopal |first1=Vasudha |date=1 April 2016 |title=BJP spokesman Sambit Patra under Delhi Medical Council lens for negligence in post-operative care |url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bjp-spokesman-sambit-patra-under-delhi-medical-council-lens-for-negligence-in-post-operative-care/amp_articleshow/51639670.cms |access-date=18 March 2022 |work=Economic Times }}</ref> On 12 August 2020, during a heated TV debate with [[Indian National Congress]] spokesperson [[Rajiv Tyagi]], Patra aggressively yelled and referred to him as "[[Jaichand]]", and a false Hindu who appears wearing a ''Tilak''. The spokesperson of Congress party, suffered a heart attack just after the debate was over. He was rushed to the hospital, but after some time of treatment, was declared dead. The congress party alleged, that the aggressive methods of the modern debating methods are the reason Rajiv Tyagi died. Many in the twitter had even lashed and declared Patra as a murderer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Congress spokesman Rajiv Tyagi dies soon after TV debate |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/congress-spokesman-rajiv-tyagi-dies-soon-after-tv-debate/articleshow/77515206.cms |access-date=24 May 2023 |work=The Times of India |date=13 August 2020}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Twitter}} {{Wikiquote}} {{Bharatiya Janata Party |state=expanded}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Patra, Sambit}} [[Category:Indian surgeons]] [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Odisha]] [[Category:People from Bokaro Steel City]]'