Bengaluru/Raichur (Karnataka): Within four months of being elected to the Rajya Sabha, BJP leader Ashok Gasti, who hailed from Karnataka's Raichur, passed away at 55.
Gasti belonged to the backward Savita community and was considered a disciplined soldier of the Sangh Pariwar. He came in contact with the RSS through the ABVP, and eventually joined the BJP. He is often credited with strengthening the organisation of the BJP from the RSS grass-root level.
Gasti, who hails from Lingasugur in Raichur district, started his public life by taking part in agitations as an ABVP member. In 1982, when he was a PUC student, he was appointed as the ABVP secretary. He fought for the students on academic issues and public problems, thus becoming a popular face among the general public.
In the year 1983, he started gaining recognition as a BJP activist in public life. Subsequently, in 1990, he was selected as the youth wing president of the BJP's district unit. He identified himself as a student leader and a young politician.
In 1992, he became a law graduate and started his career as an advocate, and parallelly kept working for the party. Between 1993 and 1995, he served the BJP's Raichur unit as the district general secretary. Between 1993 and 1999, he became a leader with the party's state unit leader.
Read: BJP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Gasti passes away due to COVID
First stint as people's representative
In the year 2001, BJP gave a ticket to Gasti for contesting in the Raichur Municipal Council elections. He was elected from 21 ward. It was his first stint as the people's representative.
Later in 2010, he was named as the district unit president of BJP. In 2012, he was appointed as the president of Late D Devaraja Urs Backward Classes Development Corporation by the then state government led by BJP. In the year 2013, he was appointed as BJP's state unit general secretary, BJP's state OBC morcha, and convener of BJP advocates forum.
Organisational man
After his student life and advocate life, Gasti worked for the BJP organisation. He served the party as the Koppala, Ballari, and Raichur district unit in-charge. Through his service, he was able to win the hearts of both party activists and leaders. In every election, he served the party from behind the screen. He toured the entire state and was able to organise the party. He also actively served the RSS at the same time.
As recognition of his four decades of service to the party, and honest track record, he was selected for Rajya Sabha member post in June.
Pertinently, he had earlier sought the party ticket for Raichur Urban assembly constituency in 2018, but was denied. However, his service was later honoured with Rajya Sabha membership.
Read: BJP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Gasti cremated with state honours
