Subhash Ramrao Bhamre was among the 'non-political' personalities fielded by BJP in 2014 elections and registered a convincing victory over Amrish Patel of Congress.
Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, an oncologist and a first-time lawmaker from Maharashtra, has replaced Rao Inderjit Singh as the Minister of State for Defence.
Mr Singh has been made Minister of State for Planning (Independent Charge) and Urban Development Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
Dr Bhamre's induction into the ministry is seen as the Narendra Modi government's attempt to compensate Maharashtra for the exit of Raosaheb Danve, who resigned after being appointed the president of BJP's state unit.
It is also an effort to humour BJP supporters in Jalgaon-Dhule belt, who are reportedly unhappy over the exit of party heavyweight Eknath Khadse from the state's Devendra Fadnavis ministry in the wake of accusations of wrongdoing during the purchase of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation land.
Dr Bhamre, 63, was among the 'non-political' personalities fielded by BJP in 2014 elections and registered a convincing victory over Amrish Patel of Congress. His constituency, Dhule, adjoins Jalgaon, the home turf of Mr Khadse.
Dr Bhamre is known for offering free treatment to cancer patients, conducting free multiple medical camps and surgeries and visiting the homes of financially weak cancer patients, who couldn't afford to visit a hospital.
He has been a Member of several parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Railways and the Committee on the Welfare of Other Backward Classes.