Personal
Known for his simplicity and adherence to Gandhian values, Shri Ashok Gehlot, son of Late Shri Lachman Singh Gehlot, was born on 3rd May 1951 in Jodhpur (Rajasthan). A Science and Law Graduate, Shri Gehlot holds a Post Graduate Degree in Economics. Married to Smt. Sunita Gehlot on 27th November 1977, he has a son (Vaibhav) and a daughter (Sonia). Magic and travelling are Shri Gehlot's favourite past time activities. Being a true son of the soil, Shri Gehlot does not believe in extravagance and wasteful expenditure. He meets people directly at regular interval to know their sufferings and grievances .
Political Profile
Active in politics and social service ever since his student life, Shri Gehlot was elected for the first time to the 7th Lok Sabha (1980-84) from Jodhpur Parliamentary Constituency in 1980. A leader with charisma Shri Gehlot has represented Jodhpur Parliamentary Constituency in the 8th Lok Sabha (1984-1989) 10th Lok Sabha (1991-1996), 11th Lok Sabha (1996-1998), and 12th Lok Sabha (1998-1999).
Elected from Sardarpura (Jodhpur) Assembly Constituency, he became member of the 11th Rajasthan Legislative Assembly in Feb. 1999. A leader with mass appeal, Shri Gehlot was again elected from the same Assembly Constituency on 4.12.2003 for the 12th Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha and on 8.12.2008 for the 13th Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha.
Profile as the Union Minister
A true statesman with his vision focused on the overall development of the underprivileged, Shri Ashok Gehlot served in the Union Cabinet of late Smt. Indira Gandhi, late Shri Rajiv Gandhi and late Shri P.V. Narsimha Rao. He has served in the Union Cabinet three times. He remained Union Deputy Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation from 2nd September 1982 to 7th February 1984, when late Smt. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India. Thereafter, he became the Dy. Minister of Sports. He served the Sports Ministry from 7th Feb. 1984 to 31st Oct. 1984 and again from 12th Nov. 1984 to 31st Dec. 1984. His transparent and meticulous style of working brought him laurels from great leaders like Late Smt. Indira Gandhi and Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi. He was elevated to the rank of State Minister. Shri Gehlot served as the Union Minister of State, Tourism and Civil Aviation from 31st Dec. 1984 to 26th Sept. 1985. Later, he was made the Union Minister of State, Textiles with Independent Charge -a portfolio held by the Prime Minister himself. Shri Gehlot held this portfolio from 21st June 1991 to 18th Jan. 1993.
Profile as Minister, Govt. of Rajasthan
Shri Gehlot served for a short period of time, as the Home and PHED Minister, Government of Rajasthan from June 1989 to November 1989.
AICC/CWC Profile
In view of Shri Gehlot's untiring endeavors to promote and propagate Congress party's ideology, he was made General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee on 17th July 2004. He held this post up to 18th February 2009. Being a devoted and dedicated worker of the Congress party, Shri Gehlot was made Member (Special Invitee), Congress Working Committee as well as In charge of Himachal Pradesh and Chattisgarh States. He held this responsibility from Jan. 2004 to July 2004.
Profile as RPCC Chief
Shri Ashok Gehlot became the President of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee at the young age of 34. His first tenure as the RPCC Chief lasted from Sept. 1985 to June 1989. He became RPCC Chief the Second time on 1st December 1994 and held this post upto 14th April 1999.
Shri Gehlot strengthened the Youth wing of Congress party as the President of Rajasthan NSUI from 1973 to 1979. He served the City District Congress Committee, Jodhpur as its President from 1979 to 1982. Besides it, he was also the General Secretary of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (I) in 1982.
Social
Always eager to serve the poor and the downtrodden, Shri Gehlot worked in the refugee camps at Bangaon and 24 Parganas districts (WB) during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. Inspired by his keen interest in Social service, Shri Gehlot rendered his services for the development of slums and jhuggi areas and actively took part in camps organized by Tarun Shanti Sena at Sevagram, Wardha, Aurangabad, Indore and several places. He contributed to the extension of adult education through Nehru Yuva Kendra. He has been actively associated with Kumar Sahitya Parishad as well as Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Book Bank, Jodhpur.
Shri Gehlot is the founder president of Bharat Seva Sansthan . Dedicated to the social service, the Sansthan arranges for ambulance services and free books for the poor students through Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Book Bank. The Sansthan has established a reading room in Jodhpur at Shri Rajiv Gandhi Seva Sadan.
Sh. Gehlot is also the Chairman of Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle, New Delhi which caters to the interests of university/ college students and teachers across the country.
Places visited
Shri Gehlot has represented India abroad as the Member of various Indian delegations. He visited China in January 1994 as Member of the AICC delegation. He was leader of Indian delegation to Commonwealth Youth Affairs Council that visited Cyprus. He also led the Indian delegation to Bulgaria. He visited various countries including Bangkok, Ireland, Frankfurt, USA (as Member of Indian delegation to UNO and for RIC convention), Canada, Hongkong, UK, Italy, Dubai, France. These visits gave him vast exposure to International relations and developmental works of these countries.
Membership held
Shri Ashok Gehlot has always considered himself as the trustee of public funds and property. He had been member of the Public Accounts Committee (Lok Sabha) from 1980 to 1982. He was also Member of the Consultative Committee on Communication (10th Lok Sabha). He served as Member, Standing Committee on Railways (10th and 11th Lok Sabha) besides being member of the Consultative Committee on External Affairs (11th Lok Sabha).
Profile as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan
Shri Ashok Gehlot's first tenure of Chief Ministership (1-12-1998 to 8-12-2003) was remarkable, among other things, for unprecedented drought management, power generation, infrastructure development, employment generation, industrial and tourism promotion, financial management and good governance.
During his first tenure the state of Rajasthan suffered worst famine of the century. He manage the famine relief works quite efficiently. Famine affected people stocked more wheat with them than they could get from their crops. Even the opposition could not raise a finger for non-availability of food grain or fodder as he personally monitored the famine relief operations. Empathizing with the poor and their sufferings is what Shri Gehlot is known for.
His slogan "Save Water, Save Electricity, Educate all" was hailed by all and sundry in Rajasthan.
Shri Ashok Gehlot has been sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the second time on 13th December 2008.
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