Sanwar Lal Jat was always a farmer at heart

JAIPUR/AJMER: A professor turned politician - five-time MLA, a sitting MP, a former union minister but at heart, always a farmer.

Sanwar Lal Jat

’s political career spans over almost two decades, during which he won five assembly elections and a lok sabha poll. It was during this journey of his that Jat emerged as a strong farmers’ leader in the state and a Jat leader of the ruling party, which has been facing a dearth of strong Jat leaders. Albeit his influence as the community’s leader was mainly restricted to Ajmer division and central Rajasthan, the BJP never faltered on portraying him as its Jat face.

Water was his pet subject and he enjoyed a related department as he believed that addressing the water-concern of the desert state was the sure-shot way to make it prosper. He played a major role in bringing Bisalpur water for drinking in Sarwar, Nasirabad and surrounding regions where the fluoride water was the major problem.

Jat is remembered as a simple leader, approachable and eager to help all. Despite being a minister, he was often seen enjoying a cup of tea with fellow villagers and farmer groups at the bus stop in his village Gopalpura. Thousands gathered at his ancestral village, where he will be cremated on Thursday. The villagers, as a mark of respect, did not cook food at their homes on Wednesday.

Born in a farmer family on January 1, 1955, Jat was inclined towards politics since his college days but began his political career began as a member of the Lok Dal party, who later joint the Janta Dal; eventually joining the BJP in 1990. His major brak came in 1990 when before the split of the Janta Dal, he was elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Bhinai in Ajmer. Prior to that, he had joint the Rajasthan University as a faculty in in 1981.

He was elected from Bhinai again in 1998 and 2003, though he lost the 2008 assembly polls. He was re-elected to the Rajasthan Assembly, this time from Nasirabad, also in Ajmer in 2013.

He first became a minister of state in the Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in 1993 and was appointed a minister in 2003 and 2013, when BJP under the leadership of Vasundhara Raje formed the government in the state. Jat came to be known as a strong Raje loyalist, which eventually also won him the ticket for 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Ajmer.

Already a state minister, Jat went on defeat Congress’ senior leader and former union minister Sachin Pilot by a historical margin of 1.71 lakh votes. Despite having won a seat in the Lok Sabha, he continued as the state water resources minister till months later.

Amidst criticism from the opposition, he continued to appear in the state assembly, also replying to queries related to his department. He continued as the minister even after resigning from the assembly during the expansion of state cabinet. He was appointed the union minister of state for water resources and Ganga rejuvenation in November 2014.

He lost his berth in the July 2016 reshuffle, mainly because of his ill-health. Following that, he returned to the state and despite being appointed the chairman of the state farmers’ commission, he had maintained a low profile because of his poor health.