JP Nadda is back as the union health minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's newly formed cabinet. Alongside this role, he will also head the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. These positions were previously held by Mansukh Mandaviya, who has now taken on the role of Labor and Employment Minister.
Nadda, born on December 2, 1960, in Patna, Bihar, pursued his BA from Patna College and his LLB from Himachal Pradesh University. His political career began with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS. He became president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in 1991. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and joined the BJP's parliamentary board in 2014.
Nadda previously served as Health Minister from 2014 to 2019 in Modi's first term. In 2020, he succeeded Amit Shah as BJP chief, while Shah continued as Union Home Minister.
Anupriya Patel and Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav have also taken significant roles in the new cabinet. Patel, representing the Mirzapur constituency, will serve again as Minister of State (MOS) for Health and Family Welfare and also as MOS for Chemicals and Fertilizers. She has been president of the Apna Dal (Soneylal) party since 2016 and has held various ministerial roles, including MOS for Commerce and Industry in 2021.
Ganpatrao Jadhav, from the Shiv Sena, will serve as the Minister of State (independent charge) of the Ministry of AYUSH and MOS for Health and Family Welfare. Before joining national politics, he was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and served as the State Minister for Sports, Youth Welfare, and Irrigation.
The decision to have a common head for both the Health and Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministries aligns with long-standing recommendations to govern pharma and health together. Currently, the Department of Pharmaceuticals falls under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. A parliamentary panel had previously suggested moving this department to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Upon taking charge, Nadda, along with Anupriya Patel and Prataprao Jadhav, met with senior officials of the Health Ministry. Nadda emphasized the government's 100-day agenda, particularly extending Ayushman Bharat coverage to those aged 70 and above.
Nadda's term as BJP president ended in January, but he was given a six-month extension to oversee the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His extensive political career includes leading BJP election campaigns in various states and serving as a minister in Himachal Pradesh.
Anupriya Patel, who won the 2024 Lok Sabha seat for Mirzapur, continues her role in the Health Ministry while also taking on responsibilities in the Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry. Prataprao Jadhav, now serving his fourth term in the Lok Sabha, has taken on dual roles in the AYUSH and Health Ministries.
With the goal of advancing the government's pharmaceutical and health programs, this reorganization places JP Nadda back in his familiar roles and gives Patel and Jadhav more responsibility.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
