Introduction
Ashok Gehlot (Hindi: अशोक गहलोत, born 3 May 1951) is an Indian politician from Rajasthan. He is Congress party's national general secretary and in-charge of party affairs for politically crucial state Gujarat. He was the Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2008 to 2013. He hails from Jodhpur city of Rajasthan in India and is a member of the Indian National Congress. He represents Sardarpura constituency of Jodhpur as Member of Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan.
Personal
Ashok Gehlot, son of Babu Laxman Singh Gehlot, was born on 3 May 1951 in a Saini Kshatriyas Mandorva Rajput family of Mandore, Mahamandir, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. A Science and Law graduate, he also holds a MA degree in Economics. He is married to Sunita Gehlot and has a son and a daughter. He is a Hindu and a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) party. He was influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi at a very young age and was actively engaged in social political work even as a student. During 1971's East Bengali refugees crisis he served in the refugee camps in the eastern states of India. It is there when former prime minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi first identified his organizational skills during one of her visits to the refugee camps. Gehlot was later appointed the first state president of National Student's Union of India and successfully organised Congress's student wing in the state.
Political career
Ashok Gehlot is considered as one of the most popular chief ministers of Rajasthan. During his tenure as Chief Minister of Rajasthan he was strong on development. He is often credited for his excellent drought management and creation of 7 million-days' employment during severe droughts in Rajasthan. Ashok Gehlot has held the following positions
Membership of legislature
| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 1980 - 84 | Member, Seventh Lok Sabha |
| 1984 - 89 | Member, Eighth Lok Sabha |
| 1991 - 96 | Member, Tenth Lok Sabha |
| 1996 - 98 | Member, Eleventh Lok Sabha |
| 1998 - 99 | Member, Twelfth Lok Sabha |
| 1999 - 2003 | Member, Eleventh Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (Elected in by-election) |
| 2003 - Cont. | Member, Twelfth Rajasthan Legislative Assembly |
Positions held
| 1980 - 82 | Member, Public Accounts Committee, Lok Sabha |
|---|---|
| 1982 - 83 | Union Deputy Minister, Department of Tourism |
| 1983 - 84 | Union Deputy Minister, Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation |
| 1984 - 84 | Union Deputy Minister, Department of Sports |
| 1984 - 85 | Union Minister of State, Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation |
| 1989 - 89 | Minister, Department of Home and PHED, Government of Rajasthan |
| 1991 - 93 | Union Minister of State, Department of Textiles (Independent Charge) |
| 1991 - 96 | Consultative Committee on Communication (Lok Sabha) |
| 1991 - 98 | Standing Committee on Railway (10th & 11th Lok Sabha) |
| 1996 - 98 | Consultative Committee on External Affairs ( Lok Sabha ) |
| 1998 - 2003 | Chief Minister, Rajasthan |
| 2008 - 2013 | Chief Minister, Rajasthan |
Other positions held
| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 1974 - 79 | President, Rajasthan NSUI |
| 1979 - 82 | President, City District Congress Committee, Jodhpur |
| 1982 | General Secretary, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee |
| 1985 - 89,1994–97, and 1997 - 99 | President, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee |
| 2004 - 08, 2017-present | General Secretary, All India Congress Committee |