JP Nadda taking oath as Cabinet minister
JP Nadda's debut straight into the cabinet, as the Health Minister, reflects his importance as a master strategist and trusted lieutenant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
The 53-year-old, who runs personality development and time management workshops for party workers, prefers to work behind the scenes.
Sources close to the mild-mannered leader say his inclusion in the Modi government is a vindication of his efficiency and dependability. He also enjoys the support of the BJP's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and has good equations with all prominent leaders of the BJP.
Mr Nadda was a strong contender for the post of BJP President but extended full support to Amit Shah after losing the race earlier this year. Along with PM Modi and Mr Shah, he is known to be a part of all major decisions in the party and is expected to act as a bridge between the party and the government.
A prominent student activist in his college days, Mr Nadda is known to be a tough task master.
Born on December 2, 1960 in Patna, Mr Nadda has emerged as a very strong political figure from Himachal Pradesh, where he was an MLA before entering the Rajya Sabha.
Mr Nadda was a member of the BJP's student wing ABVP or Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and became a Secretary of the student's body in the Patna University in 1977. His father was a Vice Chancellor in the university.
At 31 in 1991, he became national president of the BJP's youth wing. His involvement with the party from a young age is believed to have instilled in him the importance of training at the grass-roots level.
He has been the BJP's National General Secretary since May 2010.
A three-time legislator, Mr Nadda has been a minister in Himachal Pradesh in the past.
In April 2012, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha and has been a member of various Parliamentary Committees.