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The BJP stalwart enjoys the enviable reputation of having friends across the political spectrum, but having made no enemies in his half-a-century long political career.
Born on October 23, 1923 in Khachariyawas, a small village in Sikar district, Shekhawat credits his success to destiny and the 'magic of democracy'.
His father's early death forced the school going Shekhawat, the eldest son in the family, to quit studies and join the police service to support the family.
However, the dawn of independence saw him quit the police job and successfully contest his first assembly election from Danta-Ramgarh constituency in 1952 on a Jan Sangh ticket.
Starting as a fiery legislator, Shekhawat gradually proved himself to be a formidable opposition leader and an able administrator as chief minister.
Shekhawat is the only member of the Rajasthan assembly to have won in every assembly election since 1952, except 1972 when he lost from Gandhi Nagar in Jaipur.
His other major electoral loss was in 1971 when he contested from Barmer in the parliamentary polls.
He was later elected to the Rajya Sabha from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh in 1974.
Shekhawat enjoys the distinction of heading all the three non-Congress governments in the state in 1977-1980, 1990-1992 and 1993-1998.
In 1980 and 1992, his governments were sacked by the Centre before they could complete their term. In 1993, despite a thin majority, the BJP government led by Shekhawat managed to complete its term.
His tenure as the chief minister of the desert state was marked by pragmatism as his government launched path-breaking policies.
His brainchild - the Antyodaya scheme to help the poorest of the poor, brought international accolades for Shekhawat with the then World Bank chief Robert McNamara describing him as the Rockfeller of India.
He grew in stature by his personal commitment to progressive ideals, borne by his contribution to the long debates in the assembly on various progressive legislations, despite belonging to a part of Rajasthan considered by many as conservative.
He towered over his contemporaries by gaining the confidence of the masses by raising issues concerning the people, particularly the poor. With his perseverance and rustic wisdom, he was able to connect with them in a way unsurpassed by any other politician in Rajasthan.
An intense advocate of decentralisation, he had tried to unite non-Congress chief ministers to pressurise the Centre to listen to the woes of the states.
In the course of his long innings, Shekhawat has led the Jan Sangh in the state, served as national vice-president of the BJP and as chief of the farmers' cell at the party's headquarters.
SLIDE SHOW The Vice-Presidential Poll 2002: Shekhawat vs Shinde
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