Sis Ram Ola's death has created a political void in Rajasthan

Eighty-six-year-old Sis Ram Ola, Union labour and employment minister, was one of a few veteran leaders in Rajasthan who never retired from politics and remained active in both state and national politics.

Born on July 30, 1927, Ola represented the Jhunjhunu parliamentary constituency of Rajasthan in the Lok Sabha and was a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 1957 to 1990, and from 1980 to 1990 he was a Cabinet minister in the government of Rajasthan. Ola has been an eight-time MLA and five-time Member of Parliament (MP).

His death has created a political void, not only in the Jat politics but also in the local politics of Shekhawati region in the state, as he was one of the few leaders who would maintain his influence on all the seven Assembly constituencies of Jhunjhunu districts. In these Assembly elections also Ola is believed to have played key role in convince PCC chief Chandrabhan to contest election from the Mandawa constituency and helping Pratibha Singh to get Congress ticket from Nawalgarh constituency.

Senior leaders are of the view that no one can match the stature of Ola in that area and it is too early to predict that will there be another leader controlling the politics in Jhunjhunu. But much will depend that who gets the party ticket in the coming Lok Sabha election from Ola’s seat. Many local leaders are of the view that party will prefer Rajbala Ola, the daughter in law of Sis Ram Ola, as its candidate from this seat. Locals believe that she has the leadership qualities and is capable of carrying forward Ola’s legacy.

Several other Jat leaders like Rita Chaudhary, Sumitra Singh, Pratibha Singh and other have already lost the Assembly elections. His son Brijendra Ola, though has won the Jhunjhunu seat, but lacks the fire and political acumen that his father was known for. 

Ola is one of the leaders who from 1957 to 1990 he was member of Rajasthan assembly. He was Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers (independent charge) from 1996 to 1997 and Union minister of state for water resources (independent charge) from 1997 to 1998.

He was Union cabinet minister of labour and employment from May 23, 2004 to November 27, 2004 and then was Union cabinet minister for mines in the Manmohan Singh government.

A recipient of the Padma Shri award in 1968, Ola started girls’ education in a remote area in rural Rajasthan with three girls in the school known as Indira Gandhi Balika Niketan Ardawata in 1952. In early stage of politics career he had done immense work in the girls’ education and sports.

Ola’s son Bijender Ola is a Congress legislator from the Jhunjhunu Assembly constituency and was a minster in the previous Rajasthan government led by Ashok Gehlot.