Acknowledged as the technical architect behind the Congress victory in the 2008 Assembly polls and the Congress sweep in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, C P Joshi (58) has come a long way, from a professor of Psychology with a specialisation in Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in Udaipur to being sworn in to the Central Cabinet on Friday.

The last six months have been tumultuous for the Rajasthan PCC president , particularly after he lost the Assembly elections from his traditional Nathdwara seat by just one vote. However, Joshi barely had time to recover from the loss before the Lok Sabha challenge loomed ahead, as the Congress had won just four of the state’s 25 seats in 2004. However, along with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the Congress swept the LS elections, winning 20 seats.

A believer in realpolitik and always armed with facts and figures, Joshi is one of Rajasthan’s few politicians who is adept at the Gadgill formula, connected to the allocation of Central Government assistance for state plans. Over the course of the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Joshi has asserted the need for practicality. “Just public meetings and speeches are no way of achieving goals. Planning and strategy is the key to implementation,” he says. Joshi completed his Masters in Physics and then followed it up with a PhD in Psychology from the MLS University in Udaipur.

Speaking to The Indian Express on Friday, Joshi candidly admitted that he would not mind the Rural Development portfolio. “Left to me, I would like this ministry but of course, this decision is not mine. I would only like to thank the people of Bhilwara for putting their faith in me,” Joshi said.

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