BJP Karnataka Leader Shobha Karandlaje Secures Place In Cabinet Reshuffle

Who Is Shobha Karandlaje? The Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka, politician Shobha Karandlaje, is among the names set to get union cabinet portfolios in the Narendra Modi government's big reshuffle.

The rejig, first since Modi was elected to his second term as Prime Minister in 2019, is a reported attempt to bring greater diversity, representation and youth to the cabinet. The exercise comes in the wake of India recovering from a deadly second wave of COVID-19 and heading, as experts have warned, into a third one.

Out of the list of 43 new ministers who will take oath at 6 pm in New Delhi today, seven are women. See their names here.

Karandlaje, who has been a long-serving member of the BJP, is a top party leader in Karnataka and a close aide to Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa. She is a Member of Parliament from the Udupi Chikmagalur constituency.

What You Should Know About Who Is Shobha Karandlaje

Karandlaje as a pick for the union cabinet is significant in representation for both women ministers and ministers from the southern states. From the politically influential Vokkaliga community, she is currently the only woman MP in Karnataka from BJP and a popular face in the state's political scenario.

Her association with the BJP-affiliate organisations Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) goes back years.

In 2019, Karandlaje secured a big win from her constituency during the general election by a three lakh-plus vote margin; her second after 2014. Prior to that, she was elected as a member of the legislative council in 2004 and then MLA from Yeswanthpur in 2008.

"Political families support their family members — their daughter or wife or somebody else. I am from a small farmer family. Survival in politics is difficult": Shobha Karandlaje

Karandjale's administrative action towards rural and panchayat development in the state has been recognised. She has over the years also found herself in the midst of controversies, several times for controversial tweets. Most recently, a complaint was filed against her for alleging a religious minority in the country was promoting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

In developments ahead of the cabinet reshuffle, several top ministers resigned from their posts. Among the most significant include Prakash Javadekar, Harshvardhan, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Babul Supriyo. Read more here.

Image: Deccan Herald

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