Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 23 October paid tribute to former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on his birth anniversary, describing him as an 'Ajatshatru' — a leader with no enemies — of modern Indian politics and an ideal public servant who remained deeply connected to ordinary citizens throughout his life.

A Leader Forged Through Perseverance

Speaking to reporters in Jaipur, the Union Minister recalled how Bhairon Singh Shekhawat rose from a modest family background to occupy the country's second-highest constitutional office. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the journey was defined by hard work, political acumen, resilience, and an instinctive understanding of public concerns.

He described the former Vice President as a 'towering banyan tree' of Indian politics — one whose career of challenges and setbacks served as a guiding example for politicians across generations, particularly in Rajasthan and across North India.

Roots in Rajasthan, Reach Across the Nation

The minister noted that even after assuming the country's highest offices, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat maintained close ties with the grassroots. He reportedly continued to nurture relationships with villages, dhanis (remote hamlets), and panchayats across Rajasthan — a quality, the minister said, that distinguished him from many of his contemporaries.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also highlighted the former leader's role in institutionalising welfare through the Antyodaya scheme, which aimed at uplifting the poorest sections of society. During Shekhawat's first tenure as Rajasthan Chief Minister, beginning in 1977, the government undertook food grain distribution and food-for-work programmes to support vulnerable communities — an approach the minister cited as a model of inclusive governance.

Panchayati Raj and Grassroots Democracy

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat drew attention to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's contribution to expanding grassroots political participation through Panchayati Raj institutions. According to the minister, the decision to contest panchayat elections on party symbols helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strengthen its organisational presence in villages, remote settlements, and tribal areas across Rajasthan.

BJP's Confidence Ahead of Panchayati Raj Polls

Referring to ongoing Panchayati Raj elections in Rajasthan, the minister expressed confidence that the BJP would replicate the momentum seen in recent local body elections. He claimed the party had secured support in more than 70 per cent of urban local bodies across the state, and in western Rajasthan specifically, the BJP had formed governing boards in 36 of 41 local bodies.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he expects this electoral foothold to translate into a strong performance in the ongoing panchayat-level polls. The tribute to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, held on his birth anniversary, thus served as both a moment of remembrance and a political affirmation of the legacy he built at the grassroots.