Olympic Medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore Now Contests Rajasthan Assembly Elections
Jaipur: Rajyavardhan Rathore, a Padma Shri awardee, Olympic silver medallist, retired Army Colonel, and Lok Sabha member, is now taking on a new challenge as he campaigns as a BJP candidate for the Rajasthan Assembly elections. Rathore, a double trap shooter, is vying for the Jhotwara constituency.
Born in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan in January 1970 to an Army Colonel and a teacher, Rathore attended the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. He served in the 9th Grenadiers Regiment and was stationed in Jammu and Kashmir during his career. In 2009, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
Rathore ventured into shooting as a sport in 1998 and achieved remarkable success. He won the gold medal in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, setting a record of 192 that remains unbroken. Two years later, he became India’s first individual silver Olympic medallist by securing a medal in the double trap shooting event at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
In 2013, Rathore took voluntary retirement from the Army and joined the BJP. He praised Narendra Modi as a decisive leader who deserved a chance to lead the country. Rathore expressed his belief in the goodness of politicians with selfless intentions and his determination to make a difference.
As a Member of Parliament, Rathore was re-elected in 2019. He is one of the seven BJP MPs being fielded by the party to bolster its bid to regain power in Rajasthan. The state has a history of frequent political changes, and the BJP, without Vasundhara Raje as the chief ministerial face, is cautious about the Congress returning to power under Ashok Gehlot. No party has won a second term in the state since 1993.
The Jhotwara constituency will witness a battle between Rathore and Abhishek Choudhary, who was chosen by the Congress to replace the incumbent MLA, Lalchand Kataria. Rathore also faces challenges within his own party, as his selection upset Vasundhara Raje loyalist Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, who had expected to receive the ticket.
This election will test Rathore’s political skills and determination as he aims to secure victory in the Rajasthan Assembly elections.
