Kailash Gahlot
Kailash Gahlot | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Minister, Government of Delhi | |
| In office 14 February 2015 – 17 November 2024 | |
| Lieutenant Governor | Najeeb Jung Anil Baijal Vinai Kumar Saxena |
| Chief Minister | Arvind Kejriwal Atishi Marlena |
| Ministry and Departments |
|
| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office Feb 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Ajeet Singh Kharkhari |
| Constituency | Najafgarh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 July 1974 Delhi, India |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party (2024–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Aam Aadmi Party (until 2024) |
| Spouse | Moushumi Mishra Gahlot |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Alma mater | Sri Venkateswara College (BA) Campus Law Centre (LLB & LLM) |
| Profession | Lawyer and Politician |
Kailash Gahlot (born 22 July 1974) is an Indian politician and lawyer who has served as the Minister of Transport and Environment in the Delhi government. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi, representing the Najafgarh constituency as a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) until his resignation on 17 November 2024[1][2] Gahlot was a cabinet minister in the Arvind Kejriwal-led government, holding multiple key portfolios during his tenure.[3][4]
On 17 November 2024, Gahlot resigned from his ministerial position and the AAP, citing unfulfilled promises and recent controversies.[5][6] The following day, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[7]
Early life and education
Kailash Gahlot was born on 22 July 1974 into a Jat family of the Gehlot gotra in Mitraun village, Najafgarh. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi in 1995. He later pursued a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi in 1995 and 1998, respectively.[2]
Gahlot practiced law in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India. He served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Delhi High Court Bar Association from 2005 to 2007.[8]
Political career
Gahlot entered politics with the Aam Aadmi Party and was elected as the MLA for the Najafgarh constituency in the 2015 Delhi elections. He served as a member of both the Sixth and Seventh Delhi Legislative Assembly from February 2015 to November 2024.[1][2]
Cabinet Minister
Gahlot held several key portfolios in the Delhi government under the Second and Third Kejriwal ministries. These included Transport, Environment, Revenue, Administrative Reforms, Information Technology, Law, Justice and Legislative Affairs, and Finance and Planning.[9]
As Transport Minister, he led the implementation of major initiatives such as the Electric Vehicle Policy, the Pink Pass Scheme for free bus travel for women, and the Mukhyamantri Tirath Yatra Yojana. He also focused on women’s safety in public transport by deploying marshals and increasing the recruitment of women drivers.
Gahlot played a pivotal role in Delhi’s transition to electric buses, overseeing the electrification of bus depots and the addition of over 1,000 e-buses to the city’s fleet, modernizing the capital’s public transport system.[10]
On 17 November 2024, Gahlot resigned from his ministerial position and the Aam Aadmi Party, citing that the party's political ambitions had overtaken its commitment to public welfare. He pointed to unfulfilled promises, including the failure to clean the Yamuna River, which he claimed had become more polluted, asell as controversies surrounding the "Sheeshmahal scam." The following day, he joined BJP, signaling a significant shift in his political career.[11][12]
Electoral performance
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAP | Kailash Gahlot | 55,598 | 34.62 | +18.77 | |
| INLD | Bharat Singh | 54,043 | 33.65 | +2.65 | |
| BJP | Ajeet Singh Kharkhari | 39,462 | 24.57 | −8.70 | |
| INC | Jai Kishan Sharma | 8,180 | 5.09 | −2.30 | |
| BSP | Ram Singh | 1,108 | 4.60 | −2.75 | |
| NOTA | None | 535 | 0.33 | ||
| Majority | 1,555 | 0.97 | −5.82 | ||
| Turnout | 1,60,765 | 69.02 | |||
| AAP gain from BJP | Swing | +18.77 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAP | Kailash Gahlot | 81,507 | 49.86 | +15.24 | |
| BJP | Ajeet Singh Kharkhari | 75,276 | 46.05 | +21.48 | |
| INC | Sahab Singh | 2,379 | 1.46 | −3.63 | |
| NOTA | None of the above | 736 | 0.45 | +0.12 | |
| Majority | 6,231 | 3.81 | +2.84 | ||
| Turnout | 1,63,517 | 64.93 | −4.09 | ||
| AAP hold | Swing | +15.24 | |||
See also
- Aam Aadmi Party
- Delhi Legislative Assembly
- Najafgarh (Delhi Assembly constituency)
- Politics of India
- Sixth Legislative Assembly of Delhi
References
- ^ a b ""Cabinet Ministers, GNCTD"". Legislative Assembly official website. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Candidate affidavit". My neta.info. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "2015 Election Results" (PDF). Election Commission of India website. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "All MLAs from constituency 1 march". elections.in. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ The Times of India (17 November 2024). "Controversies like 'Sheeshmahal' embarrassing: Kailash Gahlot resigns as Delhi transport minister, quits AAP". Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ The Hindu (17 November 2024). "Kailash Gahlot resigns as Delhi Transport Minister, quits AAP". Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ "Kailash Gehlot joins BJP a day after quitting AAP; Arvind Kejriwal says 'he can go wherever he wants'". The Times of India. 18 November 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Kailash Gahlot: 5 Facts About Delhi Minister Who Has Quit AAP". NDTV.com. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "With eight portfolios and more, Kailash Gahlot now No 2 in AAP's Delhi Cabinet". 10 March 2023.
- ^ "The importance of Kailash Gahlot: Why AAP will feel his absence". The Indian Express. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Kailash Gehlot joins BJP a day after quitting AAP; Arvind Kejriwal says 'he can go wherever he wants'". The Times of India. 18 November 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Controversies like 'Sheeshmahal' embarrassing: Kailash Gahlot resigns as Delhi transport minister, quits AAP". The Times of India. 17 November 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 2015 to the Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 28 October 2021.