Celebrating Ashok Gehlot's 75th Birthday: A Political Journey

On May 3rd, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, is celebrating his 75th birthday. Known for his calm demeanor, strong determination, sense of humor, and serious outlook, Gehlot is regarded as one of the prominent leaders of the Congress party. He is considered to be very close to the Gandhi family. Throughout his political career, he has served as a Member of Parliament five times, held the position of Union Minister three times, been the President of the Rajasthan Congress three times, acted as the National General Secretary of Congress twice, and has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly five times, in addition to serving as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times.

Ashok Gehlot was born on May 3, 1951, in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. After completing his schooling up to the 12th grade, he enrolled at Vyas University. He graduated with degrees in Science and Law from the university. Following his undergraduate studies, Gehlot pursued a Master's degree in Economics.

Gehlot began his political career during his college days, getting involved in student politics. In 1973, he joined the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and served as the state president of NSUI Rajasthan from 1973 to 1979. Subsequently, he became the president of the Jodhpur Congress Committee from 1979 to 1982. At the age of 26, he contested elections from Sardarshahr but faced defeat.

In 1980, the Congress party nominated him as a candidate, and he won. He was elected as a Member of Parliament consecutively in 1984, 1991, 1996, and 1998. Gehlot held significant ministerial roles in the Congress-led central government and undertook various important responsibilities.

Ashok Gehlot is often referred to as a political wizard, a title he has proven true on numerous occasions. Despite facing political opposition, he knows how to navigate through challenges. In 1998, the Congress party secured 158 seats in Rajasthan, leading to Gehlot's selection as Chief Minister for the first time. He was re-elected as Chief Minister in 2008 when Congress again won a majority, and he returned to the position in 2018.

However, Gehlot's political journey has not been without its difficulties. He has had to contend with opposition parties while also managing internal party politics. There have been moments when it seemed his political career was at risk, but the political wizard has managed to overcome all obstacles.