Balmukund Acharya

Balmukund Acharya (born 1 January 1976) is an Indian politician currently serving as a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly representing the Hawa Mahal constituency, Jaipur. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Personal life He is Acharya of Hathoj Dham Jaipur, the sect of Hinduism.

Political career Following the 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, he was elected as an MLA from the Hawa Mahal, Jaipur.

Election results + 2023 Hawa Mahal Assembly Election Results Year Constituency Candidate Party Votes Percentage Result 2023 Hawa Mahal Balmukund Acharya Bharatiya Janata Party 95,989 49.18% Elected 2023 Hawa Mahal R.R. Tiwari Indian National Congress 95,015 48.68% 1st Runner Up 2023 Hawa Mahal NOTA None of the Above 1,463 0.75% N/A

Controversies Acharya has been accused of making inflammatory statements promoting Hindu nationalism and inciting violence against minority communities. His comments on non-vegetarian food near religious sites and closure of meat stalls have sparked protests and accusations of religious intolerance.

Acharya argues that wearing the hijab disrupts school discipline and sets a precedent for students wearing clothes representing various religions. This stance is interpreted by some as an attempt to impose Hindu values and restrict the religious freedom of Muslim students. Later, Muslim students gheraoed the police station, demanding that the MLA stop "vitiating the atmosphere in schools" and apologise for his actions.