Mansukh Mandaviya assumed his role as the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs on Tuesday, pledging his full dedication to enhancing the nation's sports landscape.
At 52, Mandaviya, who emerged victorious from the Porbandar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat, previously served as the Union Health Minister during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Additionally, he managed the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers in the previous government.
"...to empower the youth of the country and strengthen the country in the field of sports, today I took charge of @YASMinistry in Shastri Bhawan," Mandaviya posted on X after taking charge.
"We all will work together with full commitment to strengthen these areas," he added.
Mandaviya succeeded BJP leader Anurag Thakur as the Minister of Sports. He also assumed the role of Minister of Labour and Employment.
Joining Mandaviya was Raksha Khadse, Minister of State for Sports, a three-time BJP MP from Raver, Maharashtra. Raksha, 37, is the daughter-in-law of Eknath Khadse, an NCP leader from the Sharad Pawar faction who is returning to the BJP.
In mid-2021, during the COVID-19 crisis, Mandaviya took over the health portfolio, replacing Dr. Harsh Vardhan following a cabinet reshuffle. His ministry was responsible for increasing the supply of oxygen and medicines and managing the vaccination programme during the severe second wave of the pandemic.
In the new government, the health ministry has been assigned to JP Nadda.
(With PTI inputs)
