‘Security Not an Issue This Election’: Raj CM Ashok Gehlot’s Son

The Quint speaks to Vaibhav Gehlot

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot's son is making his election debut from Jodhpur constituency against sitting BJP MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

After the residents of Jodhpur said they did not know anything about the 38-year-old Congress candidate except that he was the CM's son, Vaibhav turned around and defended his political life. "I have worked for the party for the last 15 years and the media, including the national media, has covered me. So I don't need to tell people who I am, because the media has," he said. But the reality on the ground is different.

People are completely unaware of any work he has done for the party and think well of him due to the goodwill his father has accumulated in Jodhpur. Ashok Gehlot has been MP from Jodhpur in the past and has been credited with establishing an AIIMS and a law college in the city.

When we asked him about what the agenda was this election, he insisted it was development. "Security is not an issue this election," he told The Quint.

This is in stark contrast to the chatter on the ground which has been swayed by the narrative of the BJP towards the security and safety of the country.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has constantly been attacking Gehlot saying he is a non-resident Jodhpuri to which Gehlot said, "My elders are from here, my residence, my father, grandfather, great grandfather, all born and brought up in Jodhpur. My relatives, my everything is in Jodhpur, so how come I am an outsider?"

Well, we will only know on 23 May if the people of Jodhpur will give Vaibhav Gehlot a chance this Lok Sabha election. The people of Jodhpur vote in Phase 4 of elections on 29 April.