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Sachin Pilot, a suave leader with easy connect (Profile, Lead)
Jaipur, Dec 17 (IANS) Sachin Pilot, who played a crucial role in Congress’ return to power in Rajasthan, is a suave, urbane and charismatic leader who is equally at ease with rural masses as in TV debates.
Pilot, 41, who took oath on Monday as Deputy Chief Minister of the state, was appointed Rajasthan Congress chief in 2014 to revive the party in the state after it suffered its worst defeat managing only 21 seats in the 200-member Assembly.
He worked meticulously over the last nearly five years in cooperation with senior state leaders to ensure that the Bharatiya Janata Party is voted out of power.
But the verdict was not entirely to the satisfaction of the Congress as the party fell two seats short of the majority.
It was the nature of the verdict, with the Congress dependent on a bit of external support, that perhaps prompted party President Rahul Gandhi to choose Ashok Gehlot over Pilot in the leadership sweepstakes.
But Pilot staked his claim strongly and the power sharing formula was worked out after prolonged discussions extending over three days with both the leaders staying put in Delhi to convey their views.
During the campaign, Pilot highlighted the “agrarian distress” and unemployment as key issues as he also sought to harp on the anti-incumbency against the Vasundhara Raje government.
The big challenge now before Pilot and Gehlot is to deliver the state to the party in the Lok Sabha polls that is five months away.
That will call for coordinated efforts in governance and early fulfilment of key promises.
The BJP’s better-than-expected performance shows that it is capable of bouncing back in the Lok Sabha polls and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to run an intensive campaign.
Son of former Union Minister Rajesh Pilot, Sachin is a prominent next-generation leader, who has an easy connect with people and is approachable and affable.
The Congress will require a sizeable backing from the youth for winning the Lok Sabha polls and as such younger leaders such as Pilot are likely to be in the forefront of the party’s poll effort.
Pilot has multiple interests, including aviation, and received his private pilot’s license (PPL) in 1995. He is also a keen sportsman and has been commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army.
Born on September 7, 1977, he studied at St. Stephen’s College (University of Delhi) and later pursued MBA from Wharton Business School in the US, where he specialised in multinational management and finance.
At 26, he was the youngest member of Parliament when he first got elected to the 14th Lok Sabha from Dausa in 2004.
Upon his re-election to Lok Sabha in 2009 from Ajmer, he was appointed Minister of State (MoS) for Communication and Information Technology and sought to bridge the technology gap between rural and urban areas.
In 2012, he became Minister of State (Independent charge) of Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Pilot was selected as one of the Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum in 2008.
Pilot is married to Sara, daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.