Bhairon Singh Shekhawat- First non-Congress CM of Rajasthan (23 October 1925 – 15 May 2010)

Ajatshatru in Rajasthan politics

It was a bitter winter night in January 1996 in Jaipur and there an eerie silence in civil lines and other power corridors of the desert state. This silence was only broken by the whirly movement of red beaconed white ambassadors. State’s CM Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was away in Cleveland for treatment of heart ailment and a coup was being planned against him.

Much before media coined the term ‘ masterstroke’ Shekhawat (who was BJP’s first CM in Rajasthan), was the real Chanakya , an affable politician and knew how to turn the tables. He always had tricks up his sleeves. Despite being away from India and getting treated in USA, he foiled coup d'état and returned to Jaipur with a heroic welcome.

In those days, Tonk road was the only motorable road connecting civil lines with the Sanganer airport ( as it was popularly called then) and the whole stretch of several kilometres was decked up with ‘ Swagat dwars’ on the way. Shekhawat , though frail after illness , intermittently briefly stopped at these ‘ swagat dwars’ and with his trademark smile, was seen thanking his supporters and party workers.

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Political Career Beginning

It is said that Jan Sangh was exploring options and looking for potential candidates for fielding in the elections in 1952 when party’s stalwart L K Advani desired to make one Bishan Singh Shekhawat as the candidate from Dantaramgarh. Bishan Singh Shekhawat in those days was a dedicated RSS pracharak and also a prolific writer.

Through his writings and publications, he was connected with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other leaders. So when Advani offered him to make party candidate, Bishan Singh who was brother of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat who had by then left his police job, proposed his name for party candidate.

A surprised Advani replied that he didn’t even know who Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was. But Bishan Singh requested him and assured him of the abilities of his elder brother. Advani relented and the rest is history.

During his entire political career he contested from various seats including Srimadhopur, Kishanpol, Gandhinagar, Bali, Sriganganagar , Chhabra,Nimbahera.

Infact he was known to contest from the places where BJP was considered week and that his presence would strengthen the party there.

However, in such an attempt, he lost from Gandhinagar in 1971 and then from Sriganganagr in 1993.

But Shekhawat was a fighter who never hesitated from taking up challenges.

Infact, when no many were supporting him, and chances were bleak, he took up the challenge to contest against Pratibha Patil in the election to the post of President of the country and lost gracefully.

A man of many battles, Shekhawat is the first person from Rajasthan who made it to the post of Vice President of the country.

8 Civil lines gets Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as a resident

The period of Emergency saw a struggling Bhairon Singh Shekhwat. Like other leaders he too faced political hardships but as US General Colin Powell’s famous quotes go “there are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure.” Shekhawat learnt, experienced and toiled hard. Now it was the time to harvest the crop of success .

1977 was an opportune moment. State gave the mandate to the alliance of non-congress parties led by Janta Party. After hectic rounds of discussions , consensus was in the favour of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat who as the leader of first non-congress government in the state was sworn in as CM on June 22, 1977.

However, his government survived only till 80 and was dismissed by the union government.

But Shekhawat emerged as a top leader of the country working hard for the party. It was under his leadership that BJP was able to form a government with support of others in 1990. But his this tenure was also short as his government was once again dismissed after the destruction of Babri Masjid in 1992.

Perhaps people had affection for him & that’s why he again became CM for the third time in 1993 and this time he completed his 5 years tenure.

Followed Raj dharma

Not many people know that while the BJP was spearheading the kar seva in favour of Ram temple of Ayodhya and many BJP workers were part of the movement in those days, Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi who was a senior minister in Shekhawat’s cabinet had expressed his desire to participate in it.

Shekhawat had advised him to resign from the post of minister and then to take part in the movement. Chaturvedi gladly resigned and went on to participate. Shekhawat went to the railway station to see him off.

Road to Raisina Hilla- Elected as VP of the country

It was a proud moment for the people of Rajasthan when ‘Rajasthan ka ek hee singh” Bhairon Singh was sworn in as the Vice President of Country in August 2002.

Such was his affability, that a banquet in his honour was hosted by then CM Ashok Gehlot who was leading the Congress party in the state.

Lagged behind in the race for post of President -

After achieving everything in his political life, towards the fag end, He contested for the post of President of the country as an independent candidate against Congress’ Pratibha Patil. He received support from the BJP but allies like Shiv Sena voted for Patil because of her connect with Maharashtra. Shekhawat lost this election.

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Major contribution

Against Sati Pratha

Shekhawat ‘s one of the major contributions was his stand and decisions against Sati Pratha in the state. Known for not mincing his words, he came out against Roop kanwar sati episode which had rocked the state.

Antyodaya

The scheme and the word as a concept of reaching out to the poorest of poor was the brainchild of Shekhawat in Rajasthan.