Gopal Bhargava
Gopal Bhargava (born 1 July 1952) is an Indian politician and a senior cabinet minister in the Government of Madhya Pradesh. He was sworn in as a cabinet minister on July 2, 2020, for his sixth term, which is the highest number of terms any minister can complete in the government. He has also been the leader of opposition in the 15th Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He is the only person who has served as a cabinet minister for 15 consecutive years in the Government of Madhya Pradesh, India. He belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party, and has  been the member of the Legislative Assembly eight times consecutively, representing Rehli since 1985. Early life and education. Bhargava was born on July 1, 1952, to Pandit Shankarlal Bhargava (Kakkaji). His grandfather was a social activist & leader. He started his primary education at his hometown Garhakota and later moved to Sagar for his higher education. Bhargava holds a degree in B.Sc., MA (Political Science) and has completed LLB (Law) from Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar. Political career. His political career started with his first election to the Municipal Council in Garhakota. He was the president of the students union at  the Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Garhakota, in 1965. In 1984–85, he participated in a youth movement for a college building and was imprisoned in Sagar Jail for some time. He was first elected as president to the Garhakota Municipal Council in 1980 and then as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Rehli in 1984. In 2003, Bhargava was chosen to become the cabinet minister in Government of Madhya Pradesh led by Uma Bharti. He also became President of MP Agro-Development Corporation, President of MP Agriculture Board, President of State Warehousing Corporation, President of MP state civil supplies  corporation, President of Apex Bank MP and many other departments. In 2008, he was sworn in as cabinet minister of Panchayat & Rural Development, Social Justice in the Government of Madhya Pradesh led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In 2013, Gopal Bhargava retained the Rehli Vidhan Sabha seat by over 52,000 votes without campaigning, and led the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a third consecutive victory. On December 12, 2013, he was sworn in for his third consecutive term as cabinet minister (most senior, popular & highly decorated, reputed minister, serving same as deputy chief minister of state stand next to Shivraj Singh  Chouhan) and again took charge of Panchayat & Rural Development, Social Justice & Co-operative Society. In 2018, he was re-elected from Rehli and became the most senior legislator in Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. On January 7, 2019, he was elected Leader of the Opposition in the 15th Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He resigned as leader of the opposition after the BJP formed a government in Madhya Pradesh on March 23, 2020. He was inducted into Shivraj Singh Chauhan's cabinet on July 2, 2020, and was given the portfolio of Public Works Department and Cottage & Rural Industries. He is undefeated  in his political career, spanning four decades. Personal life. Bhargava has been married to Rekha Bhargava since 1981. They have one son and three daughters. His son Abhishek Gopal Bhargava is a politician, was the state vice president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in Madhya Pradesh, and oversees and manages his work in his constituency. Abhishek also claimed candidacy for Member of Parliament from the Damoh Lok Sabha constituency in the 2019 Indian general election.