B'day Special: Ashok Gehlot, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan

New Delhi: Ashok Gehlot is a veteran Indian politician of the Indian national Congress. He was the Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 1998 10 2003. In 2008 he was again elected as its CM after he defeated Vasundhara Raje. In 2013, Congress party faced one of its worst defeats in Rajasthan where BJP took the lead by securing 163 seats out of 200 in the Rajasthan Assembly Elections held on 1st December 2013. He is known for his tranquility and extreme fondness for the Gandhi family. Let us know more about Ashok Gehlot, the former CM of Rajasthan on his 63rd birthday:Ashok Gehlot was born on 3rd May, 1951 in the beautiful city of Jodhpur (Rajasthan) tht is also known as the Sun city. He was born to Lachman Singh Gehlot. Ashok Gehlot is married to Sunita Gehlot. The couple has been blessed with a daughter and son. The daughter's name is Sonia and son's name is Vaibhav.Ashok Gehlot was extremely active in student politics. He also participated in social activities that involved serving people. His entering mainstream politics was no surprise for people who knew him. He was elected to the 7th Lok Sabha in 1980 from his hometown – Jodhpur Parliamentary constituency. Since then he had been contesting from there till 1999. In most cases he emerged victorious. Ashok Gehlot has also served as the Union minister. He was in the Union Cabinet of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Narsimha Rao. As a Union minister he has headed several departments. He was the UNION Deputy Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation under Indira Gandhi. He was also the Deputy Minister for Sports. Ashok Gehlot was All India Congress Committee's General Secretary in 2004 – 2009. Ashok Gehlot had a spark to manage affairs even as a youth. At the age of 34 he became the President of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee. He worked tirelessly for the Youth Wing of Congress party from 1973 – 79. Ashok Gehlot served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 1998 to 2003. Following this he was defeated by Vasundhara Raje (BJP). Later in 2008 he was reelected as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Ashok Gehlot has been caught amidst controversy. Recently he was accused of gifting land to Robert Vadra. Gehlot denies such allegations and calls them baseless. He has also been accused of giving contracts worth billions to Trident Hotels. Ashok Gehlot has often been accused of nepotism but he says that he is against nepotism. Topping the list of corruption charges on him are the ones that involve favours to relatives and particularly his son Vaibhav Gehlot. Today Ashok Gehlot is known more for his scams than good deeds. Gehlot has keen interest in philanthropy. He worked in the refugee camps at Bangaon and Parganas districts in West Bengal during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. He has worked selflessly for the development of shanties and slums. His contribution toward adult education through Nehru Yuva Kendra was remarkable. Ashok is a fervent reader. He is also the founder of Bharat Seva Santhan that arranges free ambulance services and free books for poor children. He is the chairman of Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle in Delhi. For him the USP for elections is performance. He says people take note of efficiency and vote for a party that delivers. When Ashok Gehlot had lost the elections in 2013, he said – “there is no resting on the oars for me. I shall fight back and show that everything is not lost.” We wish him a wonderful birthday.