Captain Sachin Rajesh Pilot (born 7 September 1977) is an Indian politician. A member of the Indian National Congress, he has been serving as Member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Tonk since 2018. He has previously served as Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Corporate Affairs and Communication and IT in the Government of India{{Cite web|title=Cabinet reshuffle: Ministers take charge - Pawan Kumar Bansal the new Railways Minister|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nation-world/cabinet-reshuffle-ministers-take-charge/sachin-pilot-takes-charge-as-mos-independent-charge-for-corporate-affairs/slideshow/17006992.cms|access-date=2021-10-06|website=The Economic Times}} under Manmohan Singh.{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/congress-sacks-sachin-pilot-as-rajasthan-deputy-cm-pcc-chief/articleshow/76956728.cms | title=Congress sacks Sachin Pilot as Rajasthan deputy CM, PCC chief | work=The Times of India | date=14 July 2020 | access-date=14 July 2020}}{{cite news|url= https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rajasthan-crisis-second-congress-crisis-meet-today-no-rsvp-from-sachin-pilot-10-points-2262280 |title= The End Nears. Sachin Pilot Is Now Ex Deputy Chief Minister|website=NDTV}} Additionally he served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 2018 to 2020 under Ashok Gehlot. Pilot became the youngest citizen of India to become Member of Parliament at the age of 26.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=1 November 2018|title=Who is Sachin Pilot? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/who-is-sachin-pilot-/articleshow/66465086.cms|access-date=2021-09-20|website=The Times of India|language=en}}

Pilot was born to late Congress leader Rajesh Pilot and Rama Pilot. He was previously a member of the Indian Parliament for Ajmer in 2009 and Dausa constituencies of Rajasthan, becoming the youngest member of parliament when he was elected from the latter seat in 2004, aged 26. He was unseated from the Lok Sabha during the 2014 election from Ajmer constituency.{{Cite web|title=Rajasthan Election Result 2018 Highlights: Ashok Gehlot Named Chief Minister, Sachin Pilot Will Be Deputy CM|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/rajasthan-election-result-2018-highlights-ashok-gehlot-named-chief-minister-sachin-pilot-will-be-deputy-cm-3272111.html|access-date=2021-07-07|website=Moneycontrol|date=14 December 2018 |language=en}} He served as the Minister of Corporate Affairs in the UPA-2 government tenure (2012–2014).{{Cite web |date=2020-08-07 |title=Sachin Pilot |url=https://casi.sas.upenn.edu/visiting/sachinpilot |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) |language=en}}

He studied at Air Force Bal Bharati School, New Delhi, and holds a B.A. from St. Stephens College, University of Delhi, a diploma in marketing from I.M.T. Ghaziabad and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.{{cite web | url=http://myneta.info/ls2009/candidate.php?candidate_id=5847 | title=Lok Sabha 2009 Winner - Ajmer (Rajasthan): Sachin Pilot | publisher=myneta.info | access-date=1 December 2013}} He was employed with the Delhi Bureau of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and then with American multinational corporation General Motors for two years.{{Cite web |title=Detailed professional background before entering politics |url=https://www.elections.in/political-leaders/sachin-pilot.html |website=Elections.in}}

Early life

Pilot was born to late Congress leader Rajesh Pilot and Rama Pilot. His father was a Union minister of India. His ancestral village is Vaidpura in Greater Noida (West), Uttar Pradesh.{{cite web |title=Sachin Pilot |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/sachin-pilot-appointed-rajasthan-congress-chief/20140113.html |access-date=2019-11-05 |website=www.rediff.com}}

Career

File:The_President_of_Republic_of_Malawi,_Ngwazi_Prof._Bingu_wa_Mutharika_being_received_by_the_Minister_of_State_for_Communications_and_Information_Technology,_Shri_Sachin_Pilot,_at_Air_Force_Station,_Palam,_in_New_Delhi.jpg Bingu wa Mutharika in New Delhi, {{Circa|2010}}.]]

In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Pilot was elected from the Dausa constituency. At the age of 26, he became the youngest MP in India.

In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, he defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party's Kiran Maheshwari by a margin of 76,596 votes and won the seat of Ajmer.{{Cite web |title=IndiaVotes.com {{!}} Lok Sabha / 2009 / Rajasthan / Ajmer |url=https://www.indiavotes.com/lok-sabha-details/2009/rajasthan/ajmer/7504/14/15 |website=Indiavotes.com}}

Pilot was a member of the Lok Sabha's Standing Committee on Home Affairs and member of the Consultative Committee in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

In 2012, he became the Minister of Corporate Affairs in the second Manmohan Singh ministry.{{Cite web |title=SACHIN PILOT |url=https://londonspeakerbureau.com/speaker-profile/sachin-pilot/ |website=londonspeakerbureau.com}}

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he was again nominated from the Ajmer constituency and was defeated by a margin of 1,71,983 votes by Bharatiya Janata Party's sitting MLA Sanwarlal Jat.{{Cite web |title=Sachin Pilot loses Ajmer seat to BJP candidate |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/elections-2014/sachin-pilot-loses-ajmer-seat-to-bjp-candidate-114051601221_1.html |website=Business Standard|date=16 May 2014 }}

In 2014, he was appointed the President of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/sachin-the-pilot-who-helped-drive-cong-to-victory-in-rajasthan/article25718675.ece|title=Sachin: The pilot who helped drive Cong to victory in Rajasthan|date=December 11, 2018|website=The Hindu Business Line|language=en|access-date=2020-03-09}}

Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan

= Early times =

In the 2018 Legislative Assembly elections, Pilot won from the Tonk seat, after defeating Yunus Khan by a margin of 54,179 votes.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2018/12/11/rajasthan-elections-sachin-pilot-wins-tonk-by-over-54-000-votes_a_23615020/|title=Rajasthan Elections: Sachin Pilot Wins Tonk By Over 54,000 Votes|date=11 December 2018|publisher=Huffington Post|access-date=12 December 2018}} It was speculated that Pilot, who was considered instrumental in the Congress's victory in the state, would be given the post of chief minister.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/rajasthan-assembly-elections/congress-picks-ashok-gehlot-as-rajasthan-cm-sachin-pilot-as-deputy-cm/articleshow/67060422.cms|title=Congress picks Ashok Gehlot as Rajasthan CM, Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM|date=2018-12-15|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2020-03-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/ashok-gehlot-rajasthan-cm-sachin-pilot-1409472-2018-12-14|title=Good evening, Rajasthan. This is your pilot Ashok Gehlot. With me is my co-pilot Sachin |date=15 December 2018|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-03-09}} On 17 December 2018, he was sworn in as Deputy chief Minister of Rajasthan under Ashok Gehlot.{{cite web |title=Ashok Gehlot sworn in as Rajasthan chief minister, Sachin Pilot as deputy CM |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ashok-gehlot-sworn-in-as-rajasthan-chief-minister-sachin-pilot-as-deputy-cm/articleshow/67123915.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=11 March 2020 |date=17 December 2018}}

= 2020 political crisis =

On 13 July 2020, Pilot's office issued a statement saying that the government of chief minister Ashok Gehlot was in a minority.{{cite news |title=Sachin Pilot revolts, says Gehlot govt in minority; Dy CM claims support of 30 MLAs|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/desert-storm-sachin-pilot-revolts-says-gehlot-govt-in-minority-dy-cm-claims-support-of-30-mlas/articleshow/76930275.cms|work=Times of India |date=13 July 2020 |language=en}} An aide of Pilot's indicated that he would not be joining the Bharatiya Janata Party.{{cite news |title=Sachin Pilot not joining BJP, says his aide amid turmoil in Rajasthan Congress |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sachin-pilot-not-joining-bjp-says-his-aide-amid-turmoil-in-rajasthan-congress/story-SonvuUZQWKNraaRKNfIchL.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=13 July 2020 |language=en}}

On 14 July 2020, the Indian National Congress sacked Pilot as the Deputy Chief Minister and Rajasthan Congress President for his revolt against the party and its leadership.{{cite news|url= https://www.news18.com/news/politics/rajasthan-crisis-live-updates-sachin-pilot-likely-to-skip-another-meet-today-releases-video-of-16-mlas-in-support-2714827.html |title= Sachin Pilot Sacked as Deputy CM, State Congress Chief After Revolt; Ashok Gehlot Meets Governor|website=News18}}

After his revolt there was speculation that he would join the BJP, like his former colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia, but on 15 July 2020 he rejected the rumours and stated: "I am still a member of the Congress party".{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sachin-pilot-to-ndtv-i-am-not-joining-bjp-have-to-decide-on-future-course-of-action-2262944 |title="Not Joining BJP, Attempt To Malign Me Before Gandhis": Sachin Pilot |website=NDTV}}

The Rajasthan Speaker, C.P. Joshi, issued notices to 19 dissident Congress MLAs including Pilot on 14 July 2020 after the Rajasthan Congress passed a resolution that they be disqualified from the state Assembly as they had defied a party whip to attend two Congress Legislature Party meetings.{{cite news|url= https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/rajasthan-ashok-gehlot-disqualification-sachin-pilot-dissent-congress-1701491-2020-07-17|title= Gehlot guns for disqualification, Pilot says dissent: A look at precedence|website=India Today}}{{cite news|url= https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/170720/rajasthan-political-crisis-sachin-pilot-takes-congress-to-court-over-d.html |title= Rajasthan political crisis:Sachin Pilot takes Congress to court over disqualification}} Pilot challenged this notice in the Rajasthan High Court on 17 July 2020. The High Court asked the Speaker to defer action on disqualification notices till 21 July 2020.{{cite news |title=High Court asks Speaker to defer action on disqualification notices till July 21 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rajasthan-hc-asks-speaker-to-defer-action-on-disqualification-notices-till-july-21/article32114656.ece |website=The Hindu}} The High Court ordered "status quo" to be maintained, essentially putting the disqualification procedure on hold, on 24 July 2020.{{Cite news |last=Iqbal |first=Mohammed |date=2020-07-24 |title=Relief to Sachin Pilot, 18 MLAs as High Court orders status quo on disqualification notices |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rajasthan-political-crisis-hc-accepts-sachin-pilots-plea-to-make-centre-a-party/article32179496.ece |access-date=2024-07-02 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

Post 2020

In 2023, before the 2024 Indian general elections Pilot was appointed the general secretary for the Chhattisgarh Congress.{{Cite web |date=December 23, 2023 |title=Sachin Pilot gets Chhattisgarh in Congress reshuffle, Priyanka Gandhi sans portfolio |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/priyanka-gandhi-without-portfolio-pilot-chhattisgarh-general-secretary-in-cong-reshuffle-101703340869010.html |access-date=July 2, 2024}}

Electoral history

class="wikitable"
colspan = "6" \| Electoral History
Election ! colspan = "2" \|Party ! House ! Constituency ! Status
2004 \| rowspan = "3" style="background-color: {{party color\|Indian National Congress}}"\| \| rowspan = "3" \|INC \| rowspan = "3" \|Lok Sabha \| rowspan = "1" \|Dausa \| rowspan = "1" \|{{color\|green\|Won}}
2009 \| rowspan = "2" \|Ajmer \| rowspan = "1" \|{{color\|green\|Won}}
2014 \|{{color\|red\|Lost}}
2018 \| style="background-color: {{party color\|Indian National Congress}}"\| \| INC \| Rajasthan Legislative Assembly \| Tonk \| {{color\|green\|Won}}
2023 \| style="background-color: {{party color\|Indian National Congress}}"\| \| INC \| Rajasthan Legislative Assembly \| Tonk \| {{color\|green\|Won}}

class="wikitable"

colspan = "6" | Electoral History

Election

! colspan = "2" |Party

! House

! Constituency

! Status

2004

| rowspan = "3" style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}"|

| rowspan = "3" |INC

| rowspan = "3" |Lok Sabha

| rowspan = "1" |Dausa

| rowspan = "1" |{{color|green|Won}}

2009

| rowspan = "2" |Ajmer

| rowspan = "1" |{{color|green|Won}}

2014

|{{color|red|Lost}}

2018

| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}"|

| INC

| Rajasthan Legislative Assembly

| Tonk

| {{color|green|Won}}

2023

| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}"|

| INC

| Rajasthan Legislative Assembly

| Tonk

| {{color|green|Won}}

Personal life

Pilot married Sara Abdullah on 15 January 2004. She is the daughter of Farooq Abdullah, president of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference and ex-Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-i-don-t-take-advantage-of-my-surname-sara-pilot-1414232|title=I don't take advantage of my surname: Sara Pilot|author=Ismat Tahseen|date=25 July 2010|publisher=DNAindia.com|access-date=3 March 2014}} Together they have two sons. Later Sachin Pilot and Sara Abdullah have separated after nearly two decades of marriage, according to his poll affidavit for Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Sachin-Pilot-shows-assets-worth-Rs-45-crore/articleshow/4407426.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208132359/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-16/jaipur/28022235_1_sachin-pilot-bank-accounts-wife-and-son|url-status=live|archive-date=8 December 2013|website=The Times of India|title=Sachin Pilot shows assets worth Rs 4.5 crore|date=16 April 2009 |access-date=8 July 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/events/delhi/a-football-match-by-cequin/articleshow/10869309.cms|title=A Football match by Cequin|website=photogallery.IndiaTimes.com|access-date=8 July 2017}}[http://specials.rediff.com/getahead/2008/nov/06slide5.htm Sarah Abdullah and Sachin Pilot] .(2008-11-06). Retrieved on 5 April 2012.

His father, Rajesh Pilot, was also member of parliament and was also union minister.{{Cite web|title=As A Boy, He Delivered Milk To A Bungalow. As A Minister, Rajesh Pilot Lived There|url=https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/the-extraordinary-journey-of-rajesh-pilot-from-milkman-to-minister-2244568|website=NDTV}}{{Cite web|title=Kharge, Sachin Pilot pay tribute to former Union Minister Rajesh Pilot on his birth anniversary |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/kharge-sachin-pilot-pay-tribute-to-former-union-minister-rajesh-pilot-on-his-birth-anniversary20230210103712 |website=ANI news}} The 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election nomination paper filed by Pilot revealed that he is divorced from his wife.{{Cite news|title=हलफनामे में सचिन पायलट ने खुद को बताया 'Divorced', 64.3 लाख रुपए की है आय|url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/rajasthan/assembly-elections/tonk-mla-sachin-pilot-affidavit-declared-himself-divorced-and-assets-worth-of-rs/1938348|language=hi|website=Zee News|date=31 October 2023}}

Army service

On 6 September 2012, Pilot became the first Union minister of India to be commissioned as an officer in the Territorial Army, fulfilling his desire to follow his father's footsteps to be in the armed forces. He is known as Captain Pilot for being an officer in the Territorial Army.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_sachin-pilot-commissioned-as-territorial-army-officer_1737552|title=Sachin Pilot commissioned as Territorial Army officer |date=6 September 2012|website=DNAIndia.com|access-date=8 July 2017}} After being commissioned he said, "This has been my desire to join the army for very long as I wanted to have my links with the armed forces, like my father and grandfather. I am honored to be part of this family."

Books published

Rajesh Pilot: In Spirit Forever, co-authored with sister Sarika Pilot.{{Cite web|date=January 18, 2003|title=Pilot takes off |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/pilot-takes-off/articleshow/34775445.cms|access-date=2021-02-27|website=The Times of India|language=en}}

References

External links

{{Portal|Biography|Politics|India

}}

[http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4058&lastls=15] profile on Lok Sabha site
{{Facebook|SachinPilot|Sachin Pilot}}
{{Instagram|SachinPilot|Sachin Pilot}}
{{Twitter|SachinPilot|Sachin Pilot}}
sachin pilot election 2023 on [https://gkduniya.in/sachin-pilot-election-2023/ GKduniya.in]

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| title = Minister of Corporate Affairs
Minister of State (Independent charge)

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| before = Veerappa Moily