Shaktisinh Gohil

Shaktisinh Gohil
શક્તિસિંહ ગોહિલ

Shaktisinh addressing public gathering in his constituency
Chairman of Public Accounts Committee (Gujarat)
In office
5th Aug 2014[1] – Incumbent
Member of Legislative Assembly (India)
In office
2014 – Incumbent
Preceded by Chhabil Patel
Constituency Abdasa, Gujarat
Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Legislative Assembly
In office
2007–2012
Preceded by Arjun Modhwadia
Succeeded by Shankersinh Vaghela
Constituency Bhavnagar South, Gujarat
Minister of State in Government of Gujarat
In office
1991–1995
Constituency Bhavnagar South, Gujarat
Member of Legislative Assembly (India)
In office
1990-1995,1995-1998,2007 – 2012
Constituency Bhavnagar South, Gujarat
Personal details
Born Shaktisinh Harishchandrasinh Gohil
(1960-04-04) 4 April 1960
Limda (Hanubhana), Gujarat
Nationality Indian
Political party Indian National Congress
Parents Harishchandrasinh and Rajendra Kumari Baa saheb
Residence Ahmedabad
Alma mater Bhavnagar University, Saurashtra University
Occupation Agriculture, Advocate
Website shaktisinhgohil.com

Shaktisinh Harishchandrasinh Gohil (born 4 April 1960) is an Indian politician and national spokesperson of All India Congress Committee.[2] He is a member of the Indian National Congress and an MLA from Abdasa constituency[3] as of 16 May 2014. Gohil served as Minister of Finance, Health, Education, Narmada in two consecutive governments. Gohil led the opposition parties in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly as Leader of opposition from 2009 to 2012.[4]

Early life and education

Shaktisinh was born on 4 April 1960 at Limda in Bhavnagar district, then in Bombay State.[5] He is eldest son of royal family of the erstwhile Limda State of Saurashtra region in Gujarat. His grandfather Darbar Saheb Shri Ranjitsinhji was an independence activist and was associated with Congress party who had served as an MLA (1967) from Gadhda constituency. Shaktisinh has studied in B.Sc., LL.M., Diploma in Computers and Diploma in Journalism.[6]

Political career

Gohil was elected as the president of the Bhavnagar district Youth Congress Party in 1986 and General Secretary of Gujarat State Youth Congress in 1989. He was also elected as President of Land Development Bank in Umrala during same time and served in that capacity from 1986 to 1993. Gohil contested in Local bodies election and become vice president of Bhavnagar district Jilla panchayat.[7]

Gohil became member of AICC in 1990 and thus entered mainstream politics. He successfully contested for Gujarat Legislative Assembly from Bhavnagar South Constituency in 1990.He was a Minister of State in two consecutive governments from 1991-March 1995 and held various portfolios like Finance, Education, Health, Environment, Narmada, General Administration Department, Technical Education and Education Policy. Was the youngest minister in Gujarat and had the highest number of portfolios.

Shaktisinh resigned as the Minister of State for Health in 1994, demanding a medical college for Bhavnagar. His first loyalty was with his electorate he said, which deserved the medical college. His resignation galvanized the government to allocate a medical college to Bhavnagar. This, till date remains the only medical college in Bhavnagar, a district with population of over 15 lacs.[8]

He was re-elected in 1995 and 2007 but lost in 2002. He was able to secure highest number of votes among Congress candidates in Saurashtra region in 1995 elections.[9] Gohil is only person to be elected for 3 terms as a member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly From Bhavnagar South Constituency.

Gohil was Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Vidhansabha during 12th Gujarat Legislative Assembly from 2007 to 2012.[10]

In 2012 Gohil had to change his constituency as a result of disintegration of Bhavnagar south during delimitation procedure carried out by Election Commission of India.He contested from Bhavnagar Rural and was defeated by Parshotam Solanki of Bharatiya Janata Party. He was re-elected to 13th Gujarat Legislative Assembly from Abdasa constituency defeating seating MLA Chhabilbhai Patel, who had defected to Bharatiya Janata Party, in a by-election on 16 May 2014.[11]

He is chairperson of Public Accounts Committee of Gujarat Legislative Assembly since 2014.[12]

Shaktisinh Gohil was appointed as National Spokesperson of AICC in Jan 2014 by Congress President smt. Sonia Gandhi.[13]

Electoral history

Year Post Constituency Party Opponent Election Result
1990 M.L.A Bhavnagar South INCThakkershibhai Patel Gujarat Eight Assembly Election Won
1995 M.L.A Bhavnagar South INC Harubhai Gondaliya Gujarat ninth assembly election Won
2002 M.L.A Bhavnagar south INC Sunil Oza Gujarat eleventh assembly election Lost
2007 M.L.A Bhavnagar south INCJitu Vaghani Gujarat twelfth assembly election Won
2012 M.L.A Bhavnagar rural INC Parshotam Solanki Gujarat thirteenth assembly election Lost
2014 M.L.A Abdasa INCChhabil patel assembly bye polls 2014 Won

Positions held

References

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