Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot filed nomination papers from Sardarpura seat of Jodhpur on November 6. Before filing nomination, Gehlot met his elder sister Vimla Devi and took her blessings. Gehlot’s wife and his son were with him during the filing of nomination. It is noteworthy that Sardarpura seat of Jodhpur district is considered a stronghold of Congress. Ashok Gehlot has been winning this seat continuously since 1999. He got 63 percent votes in the 2018 assembly elections. Talking about Ashok Gehlot, he can be called the magician of politics. His father’s name was Laxman Singh Gehlot who was a famous magician of Rajasthan. Ashok Gehlot was also seen in many shows with his father. He used to be the magician uncle of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his childhood, today he is considered as Chanakya of the Gandhi family. Born on 3 May 1951 in Jodhpur, Ashok Gehlot contested the assembly elections from Jodhpur for the first time in 1977 on a Congress ticket, but lost by four and a half thousand votes. Gehlot himself knows magic. Once when he was asked whether he would show magic this time too? So he had said that magic continues to happen, some can see it and some may not.
Ashok Gehlot is considered a skilled strategist whose prowess he has shown in many elections. In the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, Congress gave a tough fight to BJP. This happened because of Gehlot only. This is the reason why even after the open rebellion of Sachin Pilot, his position as Chief Minister was not affected. A record was created in his name by becoming the State Congress President of Rajasthan at the age of just 34. He became the youngest state president in the history of Congress and continued to take Congress forward. Let us discuss here that Ashok Gehlot has been trusted by the Gandhi family for three generations. Gehlot was chosen by Indira Gandhi while Sanjay Gandhi groomed him. Not only this, Rajiv Gandhi promoted Gehlot while Sonia Gandhi made him shine.
Also close to Sonia Gandhi
In the Rajasthan Assembly elections of 1998, Congress got a landslide victory and the party took a big decision regarding the command of the state. This year, the party won 153 out of 200 assembly seats. Instead of stalwarts like Rajesh Pilot, Natwar Singh, Buta Singh, Balram Jakhar, Parasram Maderna, Sonia Gandhi placed her bet on Ashok Gehlot and he occupied the post of Chief Minister for the first time.
Political life of Ashok Gehlot
-If we talk about CM Ashok Gehlot, he had taken a step towards politics during his student life. Gehlot first started his political journey from NSUI in the year 1973.
-CM Gehlot was the state president of NSUI from 1973 to 1979.
-After this, he served as the President of Jodhpur Congress Committee from 1979 to 1982.
-Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot contested his first election from Sardarshahr at the age of just 26, but in the first election he was defeated by his opponents.
Gehlot directly won the Lok Sabha elections in 1980 and silenced his opponents.
-Gehlot reached Parliament after winning the Lok Sabha elections five times after 1980, in 1984, 1991, 1996 and 1998. Ashok Gehlot, who won the MP election five times, was also given important responsibilities at the Centre. Gehlot was included in the Union Cabinet thrice and was awarded important responsibilities.
-In the year 1998, after Congress got 153 seats, Ashok Gehlot took over the post of Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the first time, surpassing the then veteran Congressmen.
-After Congress got majority in the assembly elections held in 2008, Ashok Gehlot took oath as Chief Minister for the second time on 13 December.
-On 17 December 2018, Ashok Gehlot took charge as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the third time.
-Rajasthan Chief Minister Gehlot has so far created history by becoming MP five times, Minister at the Center thrice, Congress State President thrice, National General Secretary of Congress twice, MLA five times and Chief Minister thrice.