Amit Shah ready to take-on newer roles while strengthening previous
What's the story
Amit Shah has filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections. It is speculated he will take on Manohar Parrikar's role in the Cabinet. However, he silenced rumors by clarifying that taking on newer responsibilities didn't mean he'd abdicate his current post. How did the BJP president become one of the most formidable ever? How does his mind work? Here's a glimpse.
Beginning of the rise
Amit Shah: The biochemistry graduate who became Gujarat's most-powerful man
Amit Shah joined RSS at an early-age only to be picked by LK Advani for his Gandhinagar campaign in 1991. In December 2002, he was re-elected from Sarkhej by a phenomenal margin of 150,000 votes. In 2003, he became the "youngest minister" in Modi's cabinet with 10 portfolios, including home ministry. Till 2010, before being banished over fake encounters, this Gujarati Chanakya reigned supreme.
The Family Man
The other side of Shah: The family guy
Amit Shah is known to be a family man. His wife and son are his closest confidantes. Shah was very close to his late mother Kusumben, a staunch Mahatma Gandhi follower. Shah's son Jay, though away from direct politics, took on the role of joint secretary of Gujarat Cricket Association in 2013. There's speculation he will one day take over as BCCI chief.
Shrewd skills
What makes Shah the 'Man with the Midas touch'
Since he became BJP chief, Shah has brought to the party some much-needed magic. There were impressive victories right after he took over. Before elections, Shah spends hours studying reports from constituencies, apportioning seats into smallest of sections and preparing war plans. Rallying, using proxy candidates to divide votes or reaching out to disgruntled leaders, he leaves no stone unturned to ensure a victory.
The Machiavellian Mind
Inside the mind of Shah: Specific strategy for every state
Shah has successfully built an elaborate grassroots strategy customized according to the needs of states and focusing largely on "numbers, enthusiasm, and organization". In UP, it was door-to-door canvassing to reach every household and talk about Modi. In Maharashtra, the party drilled on anti-incumbency against the opposition. In every state, development and progress were propagated and craftily connected to Modi.
Do you know?
Amit Shah: The accessible neta and party worker
Many don't know that the people from his constituencies in Ahmedabad's Sarkhej and Narainpura have his personal number and can call him personally. He also maintains access to party workers and during campaigning stays, dines where the party workers are.