Here’s the inspiring story of Rajesh Kalia, the new 46-year-old Mayor of Chandigarh who in the past, used to collect garbage and sell it to support his family. His hard work, dedication and inclination towards politics has led him to the post of Mayor today. Kalia won 16 out of 27 votes at an election held on Saturday, January 19 and chaired as new Mayor of the city.
Recalling his struggle, Rajesh Kalia, who belongs to the Valmiki community, said he once worked as a rag picker. Along with his brothers, he would collect rags from garbage mounds after school and would sell it to support his family. His father Kundan Lal was a sweeper and one of his brothers still works as a sweeper.
Rajesh Kalia’s Political Journey
Originally from Ahulana village of Haryana’s Sonipat district, Kalia took shifted to Chandigarh in 1977. He recalls that his journey rags to riches was no cakewalk.
He took baby-steps into politics when he joined Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1984. Later in 1996, he helped Bharatiya Janata Party in Municipal Corporation Elections in Chandigarh.
Kalia contested his first Municipal Corporation elections from Dadumajra, but lost to a Congress candidate. Kalia, however, did not lose heart and he contested again in 2016 and this time he managed to win the election.
The biggest challenge before Rajesh Kalia as a Chandigarh’s new mayor is to make Chandigarh the cleanest city in India. At present, Chandigarh is placed at the third position in the Swachh Survekshan rankings of the central government.
