Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s newly expanded Council of Ministers includes 19 new faces with several backward leaders and many from poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. And the youngest of the lot is Anupriya Patel, a first-time MP from UP’s Mirzapur constituency.
Here is all you need to know:
- The 35-year-old OBC leader is a first time MP from UP’s Mirzapur constituency has been sworn in as the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.
- She is a graduate from Delhi University’s premier Lady Shri Ram College. She also has Master’s degrees in Psychology and Business Administration.
- She belongs to Apna Dal, a political party which was founded by her father and Kurmi leader Sonelal Patel who had split with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram in 1994.
- Her inclusion in the Union Council of Ministers is apparently aimed at consolidating backward votes especially Kurmis in poll bound Uttar Pradesh. It is said that BJP plans to project her as a prominent backward face who will carry on with her father’s legacy.
- Experts say Patel can prove to be a formidable opponent to other backward leaders like Janata Dal (U)’s Nitish Kumar and Samajwadi Party’s recent induction Beni Prasad Verma who had parted ways with Congress.
- Patel, who first became an MLA in 2012 was suspended from Apna Dal for six years due to her “anti-party activities” by her mother Krishna Patel who is also the party president, reports NDTV. They have also taken the matter to Allahabad High Court with the mother-daughter duo claiming to be the national president of the party, reports Indian Express.
- Patel is well known for her eloquent speeches in Parliament. Some also say that she is a good choice who can replace BJP’s firebrand leader Smriti Irani.
(With inputs from PTI)