Shantanu Thakur is an Indian politician affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), representing the Bangaon (SC) constituency in West Bengal. Born on August 3, 1982, in Bangaon, he comes from a prominent family, being the son of former Bengal minister Manjul Krishna Thakur. He is deeply connected to the Matua community, a significant socio-religious group in Bengal, and has been actively involved in promoting its culture and ideals for over two decades.
Thakur’s political career took off when he was elected to the 17th Lok Sabha in 2019. His election was significant as he became the first non-TMC candidate to win the Bangaon seat after the constituency’s delimitation. In 2021, he was appointed as the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. Additionally, he is a member of various parliamentary committees, including those for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
Thakur holds a degree in English from Karnataka State Open University and also pursued an advanced diploma in Hospitality Management from Victoria University, Australia. Outside of politics, he enjoys playing cricket and cooking Indian cuisine. His wealth is estimated at approximately ₹52.65 lakhs.
In his personal life, Thakur is married to Soma Thakur, and they have two sons. He is expected to contest the 2024 general elections from the same Bangaon seat.