Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap is an Indian politician and former Member of Parliament who represented the Aonla Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh for two consecutive terms. He first won the seat in 2014 and retained it in 2019, both times as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate. He later lost the Aonla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha election to Samajwadi Party candidate Neeraj Maurya.
His political career began much earlier at the local level. Kashyap served in local government before becoming a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and later holding a ministerial position in the state government. He subsequently moved through the Samajwadi Party and BJP, building a political career that has spanned local politics, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and Parliament.
As of October 7, 2026, Kashyap is again at the center of political attention after announcing that he had left the BJP. The announcement followed a social media post in which he wrote “Tata, bye-bye.” He said his dissatisfaction was connected to the treatment of people whom he believed had worked against him during the 2024 election and were later given important positions within the party. He has not announced that he has joined another political party.
Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap Quick Facts
- Full name: Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap
- Date of birth: June 1, 1968
- Age: 58 as of October 2026
- Place of birth: Kandharpur, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Nationality: Indian
- Profession: Politician and agriculturist
- Political constituency: Aonla, Uttar Pradesh
- Education: Matriculation
- Former party: Bharatiya Janata Party
- Former parliamentary position: Member of Lok Sabha
- Lok Sabha terms: 2014 to 2019 and 2019 to 2024
- Uttar Pradesh Assembly: Two terms
- State minister: 2003 to 2004
- Wife: Saroj Kashyap
- Children: Two daughters
- Current political status: Former BJP leader following his October 2026 resignation
The official Lok Sabha biography records his date and place of birth, education, family information, professional background and political positions held over several decades.
What Is Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap’s Real Name?
Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap is his publicly documented full name. He is also commonly referred to simply as Dharmendra Kashyap.
His official parliamentary records identify him as Shri Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap. Election records have also used both Dharmendra Kashyap and Dharmendra Kumar in different election years.
There is no reliable evidence that he uses a different birth name or professional name.
How Old Is Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap?
Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap was born on June 1, 1968. He is 58 years old as of October 2026.
His date of birth and birthplace are recorded in his official biography on the Lok Sabha website.
Where Was Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap Born?
Kashyap was born in Kandharpur in Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh, India.
His permanent address is also recorded in Khandharpur, Post Umarsia, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. His political career has remained closely associated with the Bareilly and Aonla region.
Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap’s Education
Kashyap’s official parliamentary biography lists him as a matriculate. He was educated at G. B. Pant Higher Secondary School in Rampuria, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.
His political career therefore developed primarily through local organization, electoral politics and public office rather than through a long academic career.
Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap’s Early Political Career
Kashyap began his political career at the grassroots level.
According to his official parliamentary profile, he served as a member of the Area Panchayat from 1995 to 2000 before becoming a member of the District Panchayat from 2000 to 2002.
This period established his involvement in local politics before he moved into state-level electoral politics.
His rise also involved changes in political affiliation. Contemporary accounts of his political history report that he was initially associated with the Bahujan Samaj Party before moving to the Samajwadi Party. He won his first Uttar Pradesh Assembly election in 2002 and was re-elected in 2007.
Dharmendra Kashyap as a Uttar Pradesh MLA
Kashyap served two terms as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly between 2002 and 2012.
His first Assembly victory came in 2002. He subsequently returned to the Assembly in 2007, continuing his political career in state politics.
His years in the Assembly were important because they moved him beyond local government and established him as a state-level political figure.
Was Dharmendra Kashyap a Minister?
Yes. Kashyap served as a Minister of State in the Uttar Pradesh government from 2003 to 2004.
The official parliamentary biography also records that he later became president of the Uttar Pradesh Land Reform Corporation in 2004 and administrator of the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Union from 2004 to 2005.
These appointments came during the period when his political career was closely connected with Uttar Pradesh state politics.
Dharmendra Kashyap and the Samajwadi Party
Before joining the BJP, Kashyap was associated with the Samajwadi Party.
He contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election from Aonla on an SP ticket but lost to BJP candidate Maneka Gandhi. He later contested the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election from Bithri Chainpur on the SP ticket but did not win.
His movement from the SP to the BJP became one of the major turning points in his political career.
When Did Dharmendra Kashyap Join the BJP?
Kashyap moved from the Samajwadi Party to the BJP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
Contemporary reporting from the 2014 election period identified him as one of the leaders brought from the Samajwadi Party into the BJP and selected to contest from Aonla.
He subsequently won the Aonla parliamentary seat in the 2014 general election.
Dharmendra Kashyap’s 2014 Lok Sabha Victory
The 2014 Lok Sabha election marked Kashyap’s arrival in national politics.
Running as a BJP candidate from Aonla, he received 409,907 votes and defeated Samajwadi Party candidate Kunwar Sarvraj Singh by 138,429 votes.
The result gave Kashyap his first term in the Lok Sabha and established him as a BJP representative from Aonla.
Dharmendra Kashyap’s Work in Parliament
During his first parliamentary term, Kashyap served on parliamentary committees and took part in the work of the Lok Sabha beyond constituency representation.
His official parliamentary profile records that he served on the Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution and on the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare during his first term.
After winning a second term, he served on the Committee on Estimates, the Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development, and the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries.
Dharmendra Kashyap’s 2019 Election Victory
Kashyap retained the Aonla seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
He received 537,675 votes, representing just over 51 percent of the vote, while BSP candidate Ruchivira finished second with 423,932 votes. His winning margin was 113,743 votes.
The victory gave him a second consecutive term in Parliament.
What Happened to Dharmendra Kashyap in the 2024 Election?
Kashyap contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Aonla for a third consecutive time as the BJP candidate, but he did not win.
Samajwadi Party candidate Neeraj Maurya defeated him with 492,515 votes. Kashyap received 476,546 votes, leaving a difference of 15,969 votes between the two candidates.
The result ended Kashyap’s decade-long tenure as Aonla’s Lok Sabha representative.
The contest was considerably closer than his 2019 victory. In 2019, he had won by more than 113,000 votes, whereas in 2024 he lost by fewer than 16,000 votes.
Dharmendra Kashyap After Losing the 2024 Election
After his defeat in 2024, Kashyap remained active in Uttar Pradesh politics even though he was no longer a Lok Sabha member.
His political future became the subject of increased discussion in 2026, particularly as the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly election approached.
Reports also linked him to speculation about a possible return to the Samajwadi Party. However, speculation about a future party affiliation should be separated from confirmed political developments.
As of October 7, 2026, he has announced his departure from the BJP, but he has not formally announced that he has joined the Samajwadi Party.
Why Did Dharmendra Kashyap Leave the BJP?
Kashyap announced his resignation from the BJP on October 7, 2026.
The announcement came after he posted “Tata, bye-bye” on social media following the announcement of BJP candidates for the Rajya Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh. His post immediately prompted speculation about whether he was preparing to leave the party.
When he later spoke publicly about his decision, he focused on what he described as dissatisfaction with the treatment of people who had opposed him during the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
According to his comments reported after his resignation, he was unhappy that people whom he believed had worked against his candidacy were subsequently given important positions within the party. He said he could not accept that situation and decided to leave.
He has not announced a final destination for his political career.
Is Dharmendra Kashyap Joining the Samajwadi Party?
As of October 7, 2026, there has been no confirmed announcement that Kashyap has joined the Samajwadi Party.
His possible return to the SP has been widely discussed because of his previous association with the party and recent political contacts. However, Kashyap has said that he intends to consult his supporters before deciding what comes next.
That distinction is important because political speculation about a possible party switch is not the same as an official membership announcement.
For now, the confirmed development is that he has left the BJP.
Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap’s Wife and Family
Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap is married to Saroj Kashyap.
His official parliamentary biography records that they married on February 20, 1986, and that they have two daughters.
One of his daughters, Kirti Kashyap, has also attracted political attention in connection with the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, although any future candidacy or party affiliation should be treated as separate from her father’s confirmed political decisions unless officially announced. Recent reports have linked her political plans to speculation surrounding her father’s next move.
What Is Dharmendra Kashyap’s Profession?
Kashyap’s official parliamentary biography lists his profession as agriculturist.
His public career, however, has primarily been political. He has served at the panchayat level, in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, in the state government and in the Lok Sabha.
Dharmendra Kashyap’s Political Career Timeline
His career can be broadly traced through several stages:
- 1995 to 2000: Member of Area Panchayat
- 2000 to 2002: Member of District Panchayat
- 2002 to 2012: Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly for two terms
- 2003 to 2004: Minister of State in the Uttar Pradesh government
- 2004: President of Uttar Pradesh Land Reform Corporation
- 2004 to 2005: Administrator of Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Union
- 2009: Contested Aonla Lok Sabha seat on the Samajwadi Party ticket
- 2012: Contested Bithri Chainpur Assembly election on the Samajwadi Party ticket
- 2014: Joined BJP and won Aonla Lok Sabha seat
- 2019: Re-elected from Aonla
- 2024: Lost Aonla Lok Sabha election to Neeraj Maurya
- October 2026: Announced his resignation from the BJP
The early and parliamentary stages of this timeline are documented in his official Lok Sabha biography, while his election history is reflected in election records.
Dharmendra Kashyap’s Major Political Achievements
The clearest milestones of Kashyap’s political career include his progression from local government into the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, his service as a state minister, and his two victories in the Aonla Lok Sabha constituency.
His 2014 victory was especially important because it brought him into national politics after years in Uttar Pradesh politics. Winning again in 2019 established him as a two-term Lok Sabha member.
His 2024 defeat did not end his political involvement. His resignation from the BJP in October 2026 has instead created another major turning point in his career.
Dharmendra Kashyap’s Political Career and Aonla
Aonla has been the central constituency of Kashyap’s parliamentary career.
He won the seat in 2014 and 2019 before narrowly losing it in 2024. The contrast between his two victories and his later defeat illustrates how significantly the electoral contest changed within a decade.
In 2014, Kashyap defeated his nearest opponent by 138,429 votes. Five years later, he increased his margin to 113,743 votes. In 2024, however, Neeraj Maurya defeated him by 15,969 votes.
Those results make Aonla central to understanding both his rise within the BJP and the political circumstances surrounding his later departure from the party.
What Is Dharmendra Kashyap Doing Now?
As of October 7, 2026, Kashyap is a former BJP leader following his resignation from the party.
His immediate political future remains undecided. He has said that he plans to consult his supporters before deciding his next step.
There has been substantial speculation about a possible move to the Samajwadi Party, but no formal announcement confirming such a move had been made at the time of writing.
The development comes ahead of the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly election and therefore has attracted considerable political attention in the state.
Latest News About Dharmendra Kashyap
The latest confirmed development involving Kashyap came on October 7, 2026, when he announced that he was leaving the BJP.
The announcement followed the BJP’s selection of its Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha candidates and his “Tata, bye-bye” social media post the previous day. While his initial post led to speculation that he was reacting to not receiving a Rajya Sabha opportunity, his subsequent explanation placed greater emphasis on his dissatisfaction with how the party handled people he said had opposed him during the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign.
Kashyap has said he will consult his supporters before determining his next political move. That means reports describing a future party switch should currently be treated as speculation rather than an established fact.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap
Who is Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap?
Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap is an Indian politician and former Lok Sabha member who represented Aonla in Uttar Pradesh. He served two terms in Parliament after winning the constituency in 2014 and 2019.
How old is Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap?
He is 58 years old as of October 2026. He was born on June 1, 1968.
Where was Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap born?
He was born in Kandharpur, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
What is Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap’s profession?
His official parliamentary profile lists him as an agriculturist. He is primarily known publicly for his political career.
Which constituency did Dharmendra Kashyap represent?
He represented the Aonla Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
How many times was Dharmendra Kashyap elected to the Lok Sabha?
He was elected twice, in 2014 and 2019. He contested the seat again in 2024 but lost to Samajwadi Party candidate Neeraj Maurya.
Did Dharmendra Kashyap win the 2024 Lok Sabha election?
No. He finished second in Aonla. Neeraj Maurya won with 492,515 votes, while Kashyap received 476,546 votes. The margin was 15,969 votes.
Which party did Dharmendra Kashyap belong to before the BJP?
He was associated with the Samajwadi Party before moving to the BJP. Earlier in his political career, he was also associated with the Bahujan Samaj Party.
Was Dharmendra Kashyap a minister?
Yes. He served as a Minister of State in the Uttar Pradesh government from 2003 to 2004.
Who is Dharmendra Kashyap’s wife?
His wife is Saroj Kashyap. The couple married on February 20, 1986.
Does Dharmendra Kashyap have children?
Yes. His official parliamentary biography records two daughters.
Why did Dharmendra Kashyap leave the BJP?
He said he was dissatisfied that people whom he believed had opposed him during the 2024 election were later given important positions within the party. He announced his resignation on October 7, 2026.
Is Dharmendra Kashyap joining the Samajwadi Party?
That had not been officially confirmed as of October 7, 2026. Kashyap said he would consult his supporters before deciding his next political move.
What is Dharmendra Kashyap doing now?
He is currently a former BJP leader following his October 2026 resignation. His next political move has not yet been formally announced.
Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap’s Career in Perspective
Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap’s political career has unfolded across more than three decades and several levels of government.
He began in local politics before becoming an Uttar Pradesh legislator and state minister. His later move into national politics through the BJP transformed him into a two-term Lok Sabha member representing Aonla. His parliamentary years included committee assignments covering food and consumer affairs, health, estimates, labour, textiles and skill development, as well as animal husbandry and fisheries.
His political story also includes several changes in party affiliation. He moved from the Bahujan Samaj Party to the Samajwadi Party, contested parliamentary and Assembly elections for the SP, and later joined the BJP before winning Aonla in 2014 and 2019.
The 2024 election ended his parliamentary tenure, but not his involvement in Uttar Pradesh politics. His October 2026 decision to leave the BJP has now opened another chapter, with his next political destination still undecided.
For now, the most important confirmed fact is straightforward: Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap has left the BJP after more than a decade with the party, and he says his next move will be determined after consulting his supporters.