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Bhajan Lal Sharma (born 15 December 1967, Age: 56 years old) is the name that has been making headlines in the Indian political scenario for the past few days. He is the newly appointed Chief Minister of Rajasthan, the largest state in India by area. He is also the first BJP leader to hold this position in the state since 2018 when the Congress party came to power under Ashok Gehlot.

But who is Bhajan Lal, and what is his story? How did he rise from a humble background to become the leader of one of the most influential states in the country? What are his achievements, challenges, and controversies? And what are his plans and vision for the future of Rajasthan? In this article, we will try to answer these questions and more, as we explore the life and career of Bhajan Sharma, the 14th Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

Family Background and Education

Bhajan Lal Sharma was born on 15 December 1967 in Atari Nadbai, a small village in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. He belongs to the Brahmin caste, which is considered to be the highest in the Hindu social hierarchy. His father, Kishan Swaroop Sharma, was a farmer, and his mother, Gomati Devi, was a homemaker.

He has two brothers and two sisters. He completed his primary and secondary education at the local government schools in his village. He has been interested in politics and social issues since his childhood and participated in various debates and competitions. He was also an avid reader of newspapers and magazines and developed a keen interest in current affairs.

He moved to Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, for his higher education. He enrolled in Rajasthan University, where he pursued a Master of Arts degree in Political Science. He graduated in 1993 and decided to join the Indian Railways as a clerk. He worked in the Railway Ministry of the Government of India for a few years and earned a decent salary. He also started a small business of wholesale trading, along with his wife, Sunita Sharma, whom he married in 1992. They have two sons and a daughter.

Bhajan Lal Sharma Wiki/Bio

Political Career

Bhajan Sharma’s political career began with the Samajik Nyay Manch, a regional party founded by Lokendra Singh Kalvi and Devi Singh Bhati, two prominent leaders of the Rajput community in Rajasthan. The party aimed to promote social justice and equality for the backward classes and minorities in the state. Sharma joined the party in 1996 and contested the assembly election from Nadbai constituency on its ticket. However, he lost his deposit, as he could not secure enough votes. He realized that the party had a limited appeal and influence, and decided to switch to a national party.

He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1998 and became an active member of the party. He was impressed by the ideology and leadership of the party, especially by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India. He worked hard to strengthen the party’s base and organization in his region and earned the trust and respect of the senior leaders.

He was appointed as the General Secretary of the BJP in Rajasthan in 2003 and held this position four times. He was also in charge of various departments and committees of the party, such as media, publicity, youth, and farmers. He played a key role in the party’s campaigns and strategies for the state and national elections.

He contested the assembly election from Sanganer constituency in 2023, and won by a huge margin of 48,081 votes, defeating Pushpendra Bhardwaj of the Congress party. He became a member of the 16th Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and emerged as one of the most popular and influential leaders of the BJP in the state.

He was also considered a potential candidate for the Chief Minister’s post, as he had the support and confidence of the party’s central leadership, especially of Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, and Amit Shah, the Home Minister of India.

Chief Minister of Rajasthan

On 12 December 2023, Bhajan Lal Sharma was appointed as the 14th Chief Minister of Rajasthan by the BJP, along with two deputy CMs, Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa. He took the oath of office and secrecy on 15 December 2023, at the Raj Bhavan in Jaipur, in the presence of Governor Kalraj Mishra, and other dignitaries. He became the first BJP Chief Minister of Rajasthan in 2018 when the Congress party came to power under Ashok Gehlot. He also became the second Brahmin Chief Minister of Rajasthan, after Harideo Joshi, who served from 1985 to 1988.

Bhajan Sharma’s appointment as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan was seen as a surprise and a masterstroke by the BJP, as he was not among the frontrunners for the post. He was chosen over other senior and experienced leaders of the party, such as Vasundhara Raje, the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and Gulab Chand Kataria, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly.

He was also preferred over other younger and dynamic leaders of the party, such as Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, the former Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti. The BJP’s decision to appoint Bhajan as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan was based on several factors, such as:

• His clean and corruption-free image, contrasted with the allegations of mismanagement and nepotism against the previous Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot.
• His humble and simple personality, appealed to the masses, especially the rural and poor sections of the society.
• His loyalty and dedication to the party earned him the trust and confidence of the party’s central leadership, especially of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
• His popularity and influence in his region, helped the party to expand its base and support in the eastern and southern parts of the state, where it had been traditionally weak.
• His caste and community helped the party to balance the social equations and appease the Brahmin voters, who had been feeling neglected and alienated by the party in recent years.

Bhajan Sharma’s elevation as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan was also seen as a challenge and a gamble by the BJP, as he had to face several difficulties and hurdles, such as:

• His lack of experience and exposure in state and national politics, which made him vulnerable to criticism and opposition from the rival parties, especially the Congress party, which had a strong and seasoned leader in Ashok Gehlot.
• His low profile and charisma made him less appealing and attractive to the urban and educated sections of society, who had high expectations and aspirations from the government.
• His limited authority and autonomy, made him dependent and subservient to the party’s central leadership, especially Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, who had the final say and control over the policies and decisions of the government.
• His internal and external conflicts and pressures, made him struggle and compromise with the interests and demands of his allies and adversaries, both within and outside the party.

Wife and Kids

Bhajan Lal is married to Sunita Sharma, who is a wholesale trading businesswoman. They have three children: two sons and a daughter. Their names are not publicly known, but they are said to be well-educated and settled in their respective fields. Bhajan Lal is very close to his family, and often spends his free time with them. He also credits his wife for supporting him in his political career, and calls her his pillar of strength.

Net Worth and Assets

Sharma is a millionaire, who has amassed a considerable wealth from his various sources of income. According to his affidavit filed in the 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, his total assets are worth Rs 1,46,56,666 (approximately 1.5 crore), which include both movable and immovable assets. His movable assets are worth Rs 43,60,000 (approximately 43.6 lakh), which consist of cash, bank deposits, investments, vehicles, jewellery, and other valuables.

His immovable assets are worth Rs 1,02,96,666 (approximately 1 crore), which include agricultural land, residential buildings, and commercial properties. He also has liabilities of Rs 35,00,000 (approximately 35 lakh), which are mainly loans from banks and financial institutions.

His annual income for the financial year 2022-2023 was Rs 6,86,660 (approximately 6.9 lakh), which came from his proprietorship, salary, rent, and bank interest. His wife’s annual income for the same period was Rs 4,27,080 (approximately 4.3 lakh), which came from her wholesale trading business, bank interest, and interest from parties.

Caste and Religion

Bhajan Lal belongs to the Brahmin caste, which is considered to be the highest in the Hindu social hierarchy. He is a devout Hindu, who follows the rituals and customs of his faith. He is also associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization, which has influenced his political ideology and outlook.

He is a follower of Lord Krishna, and has named his proprietorship after him. He is also a vegetarian, and respects the beliefs and practices of other religions. He has often participated in interfaith dialogues and events, and has advocated for communal harmony and tolerance.

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