Bharat Agnihotri

Bharat Agnihotri (born April 9, 1953) is a Canadian politician and a former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. He represented the constituency of Edmonton-Ellerslie, sitting as a Liberal. He was elected in the 2004 election, but was defeated in the 2008 election.

Early life Agnihotri was born in India, and graduated from Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science. In 1976, he immigrated to England, where he lived until 1990, when he came to Edmonton. Zwozdesky had been elected as a Liberal the previous election, and Agnihotri had volunteered for his campaign. However, Zwozdesky had left the Liberal caucus in July 1998, and joined the Progressive Conservatives a month later, and it was under their banner that he was seeking re-election. Agnihotri finished second, with 29% of the vote, nearly four thousand votes behind Zwozdesky. He sought re-election in the 2008 election, but was defeated by the Progressive Conservative candidate.

Legislative initiatives In 2007, Agnihotri sponsored the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (Repeal of Ministerial Briefing Exemption) Amendment Act, would have eliminated ministerial briefings from the list of documents exempt from public disclosure under the province's access to information provisions. It never reached second reading.

Community Initiatives Program incident On April 3, 2007, Agnihotri became the first MLA to be named—that is, asked by the Speaker to leave the assembly—in Ken Kowalski's nine years as speaker. This occurred as result of questions he asked Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture Hector Goudreau about the Community Initiatives Program, which dispenses grants to community groups. Hancock rose on a point of order, and Kowalski ruled that Agnihotri's question impugned the integrity of the ministers, and that the question was a party matter that had no place in the legislature.

Post-political career After his defeat in 2008, Agnihotri announced plans to return to work as a realtor.

Personal life Agnihotri is married to Rita and has two children. He enjoys cricket and table tennis.

Election results