Umesh Kumar

Umesh Kumar alias Umesh Kumar Sharma is an Indian politician and journalist, serving as a member of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly from the Khanpur constituency since 2022 as an independent politician. He is also known for his work as a journalist and media entrepreneur.

Early life and education

Umesh Kumar studied at the University of Delhi and earned a diploma in Media Law from the London School of Journalism.

Career

Journalism

Kumar serves as the CEO and editor-in-chief of media platforms, including News Plus OTT and Pahad TV, focusing on regional and national news in India.

Political career

In the 2022 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election, Umesh Kumar won the Khanpur constituency as an independent candidate, defeating the Ravindra Singh of Bahujan Samaj Party. He also contested the 2024 Indian general election from the Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency as an independent candidate but was unsuccessful.
In 2025, Kumar faced a notice from the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly under the anti-defection law, requiring a response within three weeks.

Controversies

In 2025, Kumar was briefly detained following a reported firing incident involving former MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh. He was later released on bail. According to his election affidavit, Kumar has four pending criminal cases, including charges of unlawful assembly and voluntarily causing hurt.

Personal life

Kumar resides in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. He is married, and his income sources include agriculture, media consultancy, and a firm.