Indian politician (born 1974)
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]
See also
References
