Know Your Minister - Gaurav Gautam - Youngest Minister in Saini Cabinet

Gaurav Gautam was born in 1988 in a middle-class household in Haryana where public service was a family tradition. Minister Gautam's father Hari Prakash Gautam, serve as Vice Chairman in the Labor Department of the Haryana government. His mother, Ratna, worked as an Anganwadi worker in the Women and Child Development Department before dedicating herself to her family as a homemaker. 

Gaurav Gautam prioritized his education unlike many politicians and pursued higher education at Guru Jambheshwar University in Hisar, where he earned a Master Degree and a PhD in Journalism. This academic foundation in mass communication provided him skills that would later prove invaluable in his political career. 

First Steps in Politics 

Gautam started working as a representative for Krishan Pal Gurjar, the Member of Parliament from Faridabad in 2014 which was beginning of his political journey. This position gave him firsthand experience in constituency management and public service at the grassroots level. 

What set Gautam apart was his eagerness to learn the basics—from organizing small meetings to addressing local grievances. His diligence and organizational abilities caught the attention of party leadership, setting the stage for bigger responsibilities.  

Rising Through Party Ranks 

Gautam's breakthrough came when he was appointed to leadership positions within the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP. His responsibilities extended beyond Haryana as he became in-charge for several states including Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Under the mentorship of Rajya Sabha MP Anil Jain, Gautam developed strategic thinking skills and expanded his political network across multiple states. He worked tirelessly to connect youth with the party's ideology and policies, often traveling to remote areas. 

Electoral Gamble in Palwal 

The 2024 Haryana Assembly elections presented a pivotal moment in Gautam's career when the BJP leadership took a calculated risk by fielding him from Palwal constituency. The decision raised eyebrows as he would be facing Chaudhary Karan Singh Dalal, a five-time MLA and Congress heavyweight with deep roots in the region. Many considered it an uphill battle for the first-time contestant. Palwal had only recently turned to the BJP in 2019 when Deepak Mangla won the seat. The placement of a newcomer against a veteran leader like Karan Singh Dalal who had close ties with former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was seen risky. However, Gautam knew how to fulfill teh expectations of the party's high command and give fruitful results, he directly approached yound voters with focus on development issues in the area. 

Unexpected Victory 

Against all odds, Gautam emerged victorious with a commanding lead of over 33,000 votes—a margin that exceeded even the party's 2019 performance. This decisive victory against a seasoned opponent immediately established him as a rising star within the BJP. "What makes his victory remarkable is not just that he won, but how he won," explains a political analyst specializing in Haryana politics. 

Ministerial Responsibilities

When Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini formed his cabinet in October 2024, the inclusion of Gautam came as a surprise to many political observers. Gaurav Gautam was entrusted with Youth Empowerment & Entrepreneurship and Sports as independent charge portfolios, along with Law & Legislative Affairs as an attached department. The responsibilities reflect the confidence of the BJP 's leadership in his capabilities. 

Future Vision 

Since assuming office, Gautam has demonstrated a clear vision focused on youth development through sports, cultural promotion, and entrepreneurship. His recent announcement at the Haryana Film Festival about establishing a Centre of Excellence at Maharshi Dayanand University highlights his commitment to creating institutional infrastructure for youth development.  As the youngest member of the Saini cabinet, Gautam represents a new generation of leadership in Haryana politics.