Amit Shah
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As BJP chief
2014-17
The photo finish and final victory of Congress leader Ahmed Patel might have been a dampener, but completion of Amit Shah's three years as BJP president has marked a remarkable run of electoral successes and organisational consolidation.
After setbacks in 2015 when BJP failed to make the grade in Delhi and Bihar, Shah has overseen a regrouping and course correction that drew on the mistakes, particularly in Bihar, to recover ground.The big majority in UP was crucial in signalling that BJP was on track and PM Narendra Modi's continued popular appeal reassures the party that it has a potent poll spearhead for 2019.
The return of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to the NDA has only further vindicated Shah's emphasis on ideology as an essential element in BJP's politics with its manifestations like projecting “ro bust“ nationalism and arguing that rivals have backed anti-India sloganeering as in the JNU controversy . This has been complimented by a tough stance on terrorism in J&K and a hawkish approach to Pakistan.
Shah's arrival in the Rajya Sabha is seen to be in keeping with his growing national stature and influence on BJP policy .
“Congratulations to Amit Shah on completing 3 successful years as BJP president. During the presidency of Amit Shah, BJP has expanded its base in several areas & diligently worked towards nation-building,“ tweeted Modi setting the tone for other leaders and supporters with congratulatory messages. The recent expansion in UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa following Assam last year is seen as a vindication of Shah's `all or nothing' tactics.
Shah has also displayed a confidence and sure footed ness in dealing with organisational deci sions that sets him apart from many pre vious appointees. His rapport with Modi enhances his author ity. But he has worked to carve out an identity for himself unlike during the Vajpayee government when lightweights like Bangaru Laxman were made party chief.
Shah's second term is a foregone conclusion as his tenure has witnessed the saffron party form governments in 13 states and alliance governments in 5. Doing so while not being diffident about Hindutva is significant as it had often been argued that “Hindu mobilisation“ did not usually sustain beyond specific events.
With more than 11-crore registered members, BJP has emerged as the largest party in a democratic polity in the world. Shah's current mission of undertaking state visits to review the organisation clearly indicates that he has 2019 firmly in his sights.
As in 2019, May
May 31, 2019: The Times of India
Born: Oct 22, 1964
Experience: 1 Rajya Sabha Term From a polling booth in-charge to heading the world’s largest political party to cabinet minister, the journey of BJP president Amit Anilchandra Shah has been stupendous to say the least.
For 14 years in Gujarat, Shah was the most trusted lieutenant of then CM Narendra Modi. His career suffered a brief setback in 2010, when he, as the MoS home of Gujarat, was arrested in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Tulsiram Prajapati encounter cases. He was granted bail on the condition that he would stay away from Gujarat. But Shah used his time in Delhi to not just sort out his legal problems but also understand the nitty-gritty of national politics. After two years away, he was allowed to return in 2012. He was subsequently discharged of all charges. Perhaps the most crucial phase of Shah’s career began in 2013, when he was made general secretary of the BJP and was tapped to spearhead the 2014 general election campaign in Uttar Pradesh. Realising the importance of UP, Shah spent almost an entire year there, working on the minutest of details, which eventually gave the party and its allies 73 of the 80 LS seats in UP.
Immediately after the 2014 LS polls, Shah was elevated to BJP president. In the first year of his tenure, the BJP won four of the five assembly elections held. Since then, with Modi at the helm of government and Amit Shah captaining the organisation that he transformed into a well-oiled electoral machine, the BJP has expanded its footprint across the country.
Incidentally, Shah honed his political skills in his home state Gujarat, where he started as a booth manager in the Gandhinagar constituency – the seat which he won this year with a record margin of 5.57 lakh votes. When he’s not busy with politics, Shah likes playing chess and watching theatre. He also likes to learn new languages. His family continues to live in their house in Ahmedabad. Whenever he comes home, it’s his granddaughter Rudri who takes up most of his time.
