Ajay Kothiyal
Colonel Ajay Kothiyal, KC, SC, VSM (Retd) is an Indian politician and a former officer of the Indian Army . He is a BJP leader, earlier he was leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and was the CM Candidate for 2022 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly elections. Kothiyal lost the election to BJP candidate in Gangotri Assembly constituency. In May 2022, he resigned from AAP and joined BJP.
Ajay Kothiyal | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 February 1969 Tehri, Uttarakhand, India |
| Allegiance | India |
| Service/ | Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1992–2018 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Service number | IC-51821X |
| Unit | The Garhwal Rifles |
| Commands held | 4th Battalion/Nuranang Battalion; 10th Battalion, of The Garhwal Rifles |
| Battles/wars | Kargil War |
| Awards | Kirti Chakra Shaurya Chakra Vishisht Seva Medal |
| Spouse(s) | Unmarried |
| Relations | Inspector General (Retd.) Satyasaran Kothiyal (father); Late. Sushila Kothiyal (mother) |
| Other work | Principal of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering; Founder of Youth Foundation Uttarakhand, India |
| Website | Youth Foundation Uttarakhand |
He is also a mountaineer and philanthropist, and was the principal of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarakhand.
He was the head of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi when the institute was given the task of rescue and rehabilitation around the Kedarnath temple, after its destruction by a flash flood in 2013. Kothiyal is unmarried. His non-profit trust, "Youth Foundation" trains young boys and girls from Uttarakhand to join the Indian Army. He was given the Uttarakhand Ratna award in 2016 for his contribution to uplift and provide employment to youth of Uttarakhand.