Ashok Gehlot (born 3 May 1951) is an Indian politician of the Indian National Congress who was Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times: 1998–2003, 2008–2013 and 2018–2023. A five-time Member of Parliament and former Union minister, he is one of the party’s most experienced organisers. He is often called the “jaadugar” (magician) of Rajasthan politics, a nod both to his political skill and to his father’s profession.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Ashok Gehlot |
| Born | 3 May 1951, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India |
| Age | 75 |
| Party | Indian National Congress |
| Office | Chief Minister of Rajasthan (1998–2003, 2008–2013, 2018–2023) |
| Constituency | Sardarpura, Jodhpur (assembly, since 1999) |
| Education | Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur (B.Sc., M.A. Economics, LL.B.) |
| Spouse | Sunita Gehlot (m. 1977) |
| Children | 2 (Vaibhav and Sonia) |
Early Life
Gehlot was born in Jodhpur into the Mali (gardener) community. His father, Laxman Singh Gehlot, was a travelling magician, and Ashok assisted him on stage as a boy. Influenced by Gandhian ideas, he worked in refugee camps in West Bengal during the Bangladesh war of 1971, where he came to the notice of Indira Gandhi. He led the Congress student wing in Rajasthan.
Political Career
He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Jodhpur in 1980 at 29 and won the seat five times. He was a junior minister for tourism, civil aviation, sports and textiles under Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and P. V. Narasimha Rao, and headed the Rajasthan Congress three times.
His first government (1998–2003) dealt with one of the state’s worst droughts. His second (2008–2013) introduced free medicines and diagnostic tests at government hospitals. His third (2018–2023) brought in the Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme with cover of up to ₹25 lakh, restored the old pension scheme for state employees, passed a right-to-health law and started subsidised Indira Rasoi kitchens.
His last term was dominated by his feud with his deputy, Sachin Pilot, who rebelled in July 2020. Gehlot kept his majority. In September 2022, when the party wanted him to become national president, legislators loyal to him refused to accept Pilot as his successor; he apologised to Sonia Gandhi and stayed out of the contest. The Congress lost Rajasthan in December 2023.
Personal Life
Gehlot married Sunita in 1977. Their son, Vaibhav Gehlot, has contested Lok Sabha elections. He is a teetotaller and vegetarian and is known for his simple habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Ashok Gehlot born?
Ashok Gehlot was born on 3 May 1951 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India and is 75 years old.
Featured image: Ashok Gehlot (left), then Chief Minister of Rajasthan, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jaipur, 7 January 2012. Photo by Prime Minister’s Office, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
