Shekhawat pays tribute to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat offered a tribute on X to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat — former Vice President, three-time Rajasthan CM, and BJP patriarch known as 'Babosa' — on his birth anniversary on 23 October 2026.
Key Takeaways
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat paid tribute to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on his birth anniversary on 23 October 2026 .
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat served as Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times: 1977–80 , 1990–92 , and 1993–98 .
He served as Vice President of India from 2002 to 2007 , one of the BJP's most senior national figures of his era.
He is affectionately known as 'Babosa' — revered grandfather — among BJP workers in Rajasthan.
His career bridged the Jan Sangh era and the rise of the BJP , making him foundational to the party's presence in Rajasthan.
On the birth anniversary of former Vice President and three-time Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat offered a heartfelt tribute on Friday, 23 October 2026, bowing in reverence to the memory of the man the BJP faithful across Rajasthan affectionately call 'Babosa' — the grand patriarch.
Posting in Hindi on X, the minister wrote: 'Kotishah naman' — a thousand-fold salutation — to the former Vice President, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and 'one of the all-time stalwarts of the BJP.' The tribute was accompanied by an image, underscoring the reverence with which Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's legacy continues to be held inside the party.Three terms, one legacy: who Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat remains one of the most consequential political figures in Rajasthan's post-Independence history. He served as Chief Minister of the state three times — 1977–80, 1990–92, and 1993–98 — across the transition from Jan Sangh to the BJP, helping root the party's organisational structure deep into Rajasthan's social fabric. His tenure as Vice President of India from 2002 to 2007 took his stature to the national stage, where he became one of the most recognisable faces of the saffron camp's older generation. His nickname 'Babosa' — a term of endearment meaning revered grandfather in the Rajasthani vernacular — speaks to the warmth and loyalty he commanded beyond pure political allegiance. For BJP workers in Rajasthan, he is not simply a former chief minister; he is the architect of the party's social coalitions in the state.Anniversary tributes and the BJP's continuity politics
Birth anniversary observances of founding-era leaders are a deliberate, recurring feature of BJP political culture. By publicly marking such occasions, serving ministers reinforce an unbroken thread between the party's present leadership and the stalwarts who built it — a signal directed as much at the grassroots cadre as at the broader electorate. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who represents Jodhpur in the Lok Sabha, shares the Shekhawat surname and has long positioned himself within this same Rajputana political tradition that Bhairon Singh Shekhawat embodied. Such tributes on 23 October each year typically draw statements from Rajasthan BJP units, state-level leaders, and national figures, reaffirming the late leader's place in the party's collective memory.Point of View
Reinforcing party continuity at the grassroots level in Rajasthan. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's three chief ministerial terms and a Vice Presidency make him one of the few BJP leaders whose legacy genuinely transcends state politics. By invoking 'Babosa,' serving ministers signal their place within a specific Rajputana political tradition — a cultural grammar that still carries electoral weight in the state. The timing, on a regular annual cycle, suggests institutional memory-building as much as personal sentiment.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bhairon Singh Shekhawat?
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was a senior BJP leader who served as Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times (1977–80, 1990–92, 1993–98) and as Vice President of India from 2002 to 2007. He is affectionately known as 'Babosa' and is considered one of the architects of the BJP's base in Rajasthan.
When is Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's birth anniversary?
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's birth anniversary falls on 23 October and is commemorated annually by BJP leaders across Rajasthan and at the national level.
What does 'Babosa' mean?
'Babosa' is a Rajasthani term of endearment meaning revered grandfather. It reflects the deep affection and respect that BJP workers and supporters in Rajasthan had for Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
How many times was Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Chief Minister of Rajasthan?
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat served as Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times — in 1977–80, 1990–92, and 1993–98 — making him one of the longest-serving and most influential CMs in the state's history.
Who is Gajendra Singh Shekhawat?
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, a senior BJP leader, and the Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
