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{{Short description|Indian politician (born 1950)}}
{{about||the Indian politician from Assam|Ashok Sarma}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ashok Sharma
| image = Ashok Sharma.jpg
| caption = Ashok Sharma in 2018
| birth_date = c. 1959
| birth_place = Dholpur, Rajasthan, India
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2022|8|3|1959}}
| death_place = Dholpur, Rajasthan, India
| education = B.Sc., Maharaj College, University of Rajasthan
| occupation = Politician
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| other_party = [[Indian National Congress]] (until 2018)
| father = [[Banwari Lal Sharma]]
| known_for = Member of the Jagan political family
}}

'''Ashok Sharma''' (c. 1959 – 3 August 2022) was an Indian politician from [[Dholpur district]], Rajasthan. He was a member of the [[Indian National Congress]] until 2018 and later joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP). He was the eldest son of [[Banwari Lal Sharma]], a five-time MLA and Cabinet Minister in the [[Government of Rajasthan]]. Sharma was part of the influential Jagan political family and was known for his role in Brahmin politics in Rajasthan.

== Early life and education ==
Ashok Sharma was born around 1959 in Dholpur, Rajasthan, into the prominent Jagan family. His father, Banwari Lal Sharma, was a senior Congress politician and Cabinet Minister. The Jagan family, founded by Jagannath Prasad Sharma, had deep political ties dating back to the Nehru era and were known to wield considerable respect among Brahmin communities throughout India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=विरोधी भी करते थे इज्जत! जानिए कौन थे बनवारी लाल शर्मा... जिन्होंने पूर्व CM वसुंधरा राजे को हराया था चुनाव |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/rajasthan/jaipur/know-who-was-banwari-lal-sharma-who-passed-away-who-defeated-former-cm-vasundhara-raje-in-elections/2485149 |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Zee Rajasthan |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-23 |title=पूर्व मंत्री बनवारी लाल शर्मा का निधन, 5 बार रहे विधायक, 1980 में पूर्व सीएम वसुंधरा राजे को दी थी शिकस्त |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/rajasthan/dholpur-former-minister-banwari-lal-sharma-passes-away-5-time-mla-defeated-former-cm-vasundhara-raje-in-1980-local18-8791227.html |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}}</ref>

Sharma completed his early education in Dholpur and earned a LLB.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-03 |title=धौलपुर में बीजेपी नेता अशोक शर्मा का निधन: 2018 में कांग्रेस छोड़कर बीजेपी में हुए थे शामिल, 2 बार विधानसभा चुनाव लड़े |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/rajasthan/dholpur/news/contested-assembly-elections-2-times-left-congress-in-2018-and-joined-bjp-130141581.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814162748/https://www.bhaskar.com/local/rajasthan/dholpur/news/contested-assembly-elections-2-times-left-congress-in-2018-and-joined-bjp-130141581.html |archive-date=2023-08-14 |access-date=2025-06-29 |work=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi}}</ref>

== Political career ==

=== In the Indian National Congress ===
Sharma began his political journey in the 1980s, becoming the President of the Youth Congress in 1984.<ref name="zeenews">{{cite news |title=धौलपुर में भाजपा नेता अशोक शर्मा का निधन, सीपी जोशी ने जताया दुख |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/rajasthan/dholpur/assembly-speaker-cp-joshi-reached-dholpur-expressed-condolences-by-meeting-the-family-of-bjp-leader-ashok-shar/1294154 |access-date=2025-06-27 |work=Zee News |language=hi}}</ref> He later rose to the position of District Congress President actively organising party events near Jagan Cinema, a family landmark. In the [[2008 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election]], he contested the Dholpur constituency on a Congress ticket narrowly finishing second to Abdul Sagir Khan of the BJP.<ref name="eci2008">{{cite web |title=Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2008 |url=https://eci.gov.in |publisher=Election Commission of India |access-date=2025-06-27}}</ref>

=== Switch to Bharatiya Janata Party ===
In October 2018, ahead of the state elections, Sharma joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at the BJP headquarters. His switch was supported by senior BJP leaders including [[Dushyant Singh]] and [[Arjun Ram Meghwal]].<ref name="bhaskar2018">{{cite news |title=पूर्व मंत्री बनवारीलाल शर्मा के बेटे अशोक शर्मा भाजपा में शामिल |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/jharkhand-congress-dholpur-from-former-minister39s-son-ashok-sharma-in-bjp-040202-3061484.html |access-date=2025-06-27 |work=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi}}</ref> He was nominated to contest the Rajakhera Assembly seat in the [[2018 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election]], where he lost to [[Rohit Bohra]] of the Congress.<ref name="eci2018">{{cite web |title=Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018 – Rajakhera |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/rajasthan/constituency-show/rajakhera |access-date=2025-06-27 |work=The Times of India}}</ref>

== Role in the Jagan family ==
Ashok Sharma was a key figure in the Jagan family, a political dynasty with strong roots in India. The family was respected not only for political clout but also for its symbolic authority. According to reports, the word "Jagan" painted on vehicles afforded the family respect even among mafia groups. The family also includes other public figures.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ashok Sharma Death: जगन की विरासत के सच्चे वाहक का निधन, पूर्वी राजस्थान में ब्राह्मण समाज के एक युग का अंत |url=https://www.amarujala.com/rajasthan/ashok-sharma-was-a-tall-leader-of-brahman-community-in-east-rajasthan |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref>

== Death ==
Sharma died of a heart attack on 3 August 2022 at his residence Jagan Bhawan in Dholpur at the age of approximately 63.<ref name="livehindustan">{{cite news |title=धौलपुर: भाजपा नेता अशोक शर्मा का निधन, खबर सुनकर चाचा को भी पड़ा दिल का दौरा |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/rajasthan/story-dhaulpur-bjp-leader-ashok-sharma-died-contested-election-in-2018-6885697.html |access-date=2025-06-27 |work=Live Hindustan |language=hi}}</ref> His death drew widespread condolences from both BJP and Congress leaders and caused congestion on the highway into Dholpur.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ashok Sharma Death: जगन की विरासत के सच्चे वाहक का निधन, पूर्वी राजस्थान में ब्राह्मण समाज के एक युग का अंत |url=https://www.amarujala.com/rajasthan/ashok-sharma-was-a-tall-leader-of-brahman-community-in-east-rajasthan |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref> Former Chief Minister [[Vasundhara Raje]], MP [[Manoj Rajoria]], and Speaker [[C. P. Joshi]] were among those who attended his cremation at Chambal Muktidham in Dholpur.<ref name="livehindustan"/>

== Legacy ==
Ashok Sharma is remembered for his dedication to public service, strong organisational skills, and ability to maintain relevance across party lines. His influence within the Brahmin community of Rajasthan, and his continuation of the Jagan family's legacy, left a lasting impact on regional politics.<ref name="patrika">{{cite news |title=भाजपा नेता अशोक शर्मा का निधन, दो बार लड़ा विधानसभा चुनाव |url=https://www.patrika.com/ajmer-news/bjp-leader-ashok-sharma-died-of-heart-attack-had-fought-assembly-ele-7691892 |access-date=2025-06-27 |work=Patrika |language=hi}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Banwari Lal Sharma]]
* [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
* [[Vasundhara Raje]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Ashok}}
[[Category:1950s births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:India MPs 1996–1997]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Rajasthan]]

Ashok Sharma (politician) - Revision history

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