Meet India’s New Sports Minister, Mr Mansukh Mandaviya

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Sports Ministry

Mansukh Mandaviya, a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been appointed as the new Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet. He takes over from Anurag Thakur, who served in the role from July 2021 onwards.

All you need to know about Mr Mansukh Mandaviya

Born and raised in Gujarat, Mandaviya has been a dedicated member of the BJP, rising through the ranks of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the BJP. In 2002, he became the youngest Member of the Legislative Assembly in Gujarat, winning from the Palitana constituency. He was the state secretary of BJP in Gujarat, eventually securing a seat in the Rajya Sabha in 2012.

Mandaviya holds a Master’s degree in political science from Bhavnagar University and completed his PhD in the same from the Gujarat Institute of Development Research. In the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, he won his seat from Porbandar, beating Congress’ Lalit Vasoya by over four lakh votes.

Before his appointment as the Sports Minister, Mandaviya served as the Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers of India in his previous term as the Union Minister. His leadership and administrative skills were evident in his previous roles, and these will undoubtedly be beneficial in his new role as the Sports Minister.

The appointment comes at a crucial time as India’s preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games are almost complete. It will be interesting to see how these preparations are strengthened further under the new Sports Minister. Mandaviya’s appointment also coincides with the BJP’s return to power for the second consecutive time in 2024, albeit without a clear majority for the first time in 20 years.

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