Centre comes calling for ‘Doctor Saheb’
28 May 2014 4:37 AM IST
Harsh Vardhan, fondly referred to as ‘Doctor Saheb’ by both party and opposition members, was finally picked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spearhead the health ministry at the Centre. The city BJP is now searching for a new leader to head its state unit.
Vardhan entered politics in 1993 and won all the (five) assembly elections he contested. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he was elected as Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk. Vardhan had become face of Delhi BJP after he was projected as chief minister, one month before Delhi assembly elections in 2013.
‘I always devote myself to fulfill the responsibility entrusted in me. I pray God gives me enough power to excel and contribute my best in the new government and live up to the expectations of the people,’ said Harsh Vardhan. Known for his easy-going attitude and simplicity, Harsh Vardhan is credited with steadfastly uniting various factions in Delhi BJP and leading the party’s aggressive campaign for Lok Sabha polls, in which it recorded a clean sweep.
A RSS member since his younger days, 59-year-old Vardhan was BJP’s chief ministerial nominee in the assembly polls in December last year and was made the city unit chief of the party in February replacing Vijay Goel. Prior to this appointment, Vardhan was BJP’s state unit president twice. In 2013 assembly elections, Vardhan had taken a strong stand of not trying to cobble up a government in the city after the party fell short by four seats.
As state health minister, he had launched the polio eradication initiative in Delhi in October, 1994. Taking cue from the success of the programme, the Union Health Ministry adopted the same as a national programme later. He had also visited various states to persuade the health ministers to cooperate in making the country polio-free. The names doing the round to replace Harsh Vardhan as Delhi BJP chief are Satish Upadhyay, Ashish Sood, Parvesh Sahib Singh and Alok Kumar. Ashish Sood is a former DUSU president and is also considered close to JP Nadda, who is likely to take over as BJP’s national president.
Sood is currently vice president in Delhi BJP and a councillor from Janakpuri West in SDMC. Meanwhile, Upadhaya has been on several posts in BJP’s youth and student’s wing and a councillor from Malviya Nagar. He is presently chairman of standing committee in SDMC. Besides these two names, former Delhi assembly speaker, Alok Kumar, is also being considered as he is reportedly close to RSS. The name of former Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta and Vijay Goel have also made the rounds.
Vardhan entered politics in 1993 and won all the (five) assembly elections he contested. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he was elected as Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk. Vardhan had become face of Delhi BJP after he was projected as chief minister, one month before Delhi assembly elections in 2013.
‘I always devote myself to fulfill the responsibility entrusted in me. I pray God gives me enough power to excel and contribute my best in the new government and live up to the expectations of the people,’ said Harsh Vardhan. Known for his easy-going attitude and simplicity, Harsh Vardhan is credited with steadfastly uniting various factions in Delhi BJP and leading the party’s aggressive campaign for Lok Sabha polls, in which it recorded a clean sweep.
A RSS member since his younger days, 59-year-old Vardhan was BJP’s chief ministerial nominee in the assembly polls in December last year and was made the city unit chief of the party in February replacing Vijay Goel. Prior to this appointment, Vardhan was BJP’s state unit president twice. In 2013 assembly elections, Vardhan had taken a strong stand of not trying to cobble up a government in the city after the party fell short by four seats.
As state health minister, he had launched the polio eradication initiative in Delhi in October, 1994. Taking cue from the success of the programme, the Union Health Ministry adopted the same as a national programme later. He had also visited various states to persuade the health ministers to cooperate in making the country polio-free. The names doing the round to replace Harsh Vardhan as Delhi BJP chief are Satish Upadhyay, Ashish Sood, Parvesh Sahib Singh and Alok Kumar. Ashish Sood is a former DUSU president and is also considered close to JP Nadda, who is likely to take over as BJP’s national president.
Sood is currently vice president in Delhi BJP and a councillor from Janakpuri West in SDMC. Meanwhile, Upadhaya has been on several posts in BJP’s youth and student’s wing and a councillor from Malviya Nagar. He is presently chairman of standing committee in SDMC. Besides these two names, former Delhi assembly speaker, Alok Kumar, is also being considered as he is reportedly close to RSS. The name of former Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta and Vijay Goel have also made the rounds.
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