Lal Diary: Ashok Gehlot vs sacked minister: The ‘lal diary’ mystery deepens in Rajasthan | Jaipur News
Congress leader Dharmendra Rathore, who is considered to be the most loyal and trusted leader of Gehlot, has become the axis of the controversy. The red diary, Gudha claims, belongs to Rathore. He says he brought the diary from Rathore’s flat on the ninth floor of Somdutt Apartments in Jaipur’s C-Scheme. Let’s know who is Rathore and how he became the most trusted leader of Gehlot.
Rathore originally hails from Biloli village in Bansur tehsil of Alwar district. Rathore has 9 siblings including 4 brothers and 5 sisters. His father, late Nahar Singh Rathore, was an employee in the animal husbandry department. When Rathore was 16 and a half years old. His father Nahar Singh Rathore had died. As a child, his father’s life was very difficult. His mother was a constable in the jail, with whom he completed his education. Later, he got a job in the Animal Husbandry Department in place of his father.
While working as a state employee, Rathore started raising his voice on various demands of the employees. Thanks to his leadership abilities, he became the president of the employees’ federation. Many big movements took place under the leadership of Rathore as a worker leader. During the first term of the Ashok Gehlot government (1998-2003), under the leadership of Lallu Singh, the president of the employees’ federation, Rathore used to lead the employees of the animal husbandry department. After Lallu Singh, Rathore was elected as the president of the employees federation.
Being the president of the employees federation, Rathore had become a special identity. During this period, he came in contact with many political leaders. He is contesting from Bansur assembly constituency in Alwar district. In 2003, he sought a ticket from the Congress but contested as an independent after being denied a ticket. He had to face defeat in the election, but with this election, Rathore’s stature increased a lot. Ashok Gehlot recognised the talent of Rathore and he inducted him into his party.
In 2008 and 2013 too, Rathore had sought a ticket from the Congress but was denied one. Even though he did not get a ticket, he got political appointments during Gehlot’s tenure as Ashok Gehlot was the most trusted leader. During Ashok Gehlot’s second term as chief minister (2008-2013), Rathore was made chairman of the state seed corporation. The post is equivalent to that of a minister of state. In Gehlot’s current office, the chief minister has made him the chairman of the Rajasthan State Tourism Corporation (RTDC).
Though Rathore is not an elected representative, he is an expert in election management. In every election strategy that Gehlot devises, the first name that comes up among his most trusted leaders is Rathore. At the time of elections, whether it is about ticket distribution or making a strategy to win the elections. In such important tasks, Rathore’s advice has been considered very important for Gehlot. Rathore has also been responsible for keeping the MLAs united during political crises and arranging for their stay in Jaipur during political upheavals in other states.
