The bail cleared the hurdles in the way of Shah's imminent rise in the BJP where he enjoys complete trust and backing of Modi.
Shah was elevated as BJP's general secretary in-charge of UP where he had less than a year to deliver as LS polls drew near.
He executed his brief to perfection, eventually beating competition within the BJP to emerge as party president ahead of state elections in Haryana and Maharashtra this year and Jharkhand and J&K next year.
Shah's appointment reflects BJP's urge to consolidate its electoral gains further and expand its national footprint.The BJP leader's rise equally marks a generational shift in the party which is more ready than ever to trust youngsters over veterans.
His elevation follows extensive debate within the RSS on whether to hand over party presidentship to a Gujarati when another Gujarati is head of the Government.
BJP insiders say the decision in favour of Shah was finally taken on grounds that his proximity to Modi would aid better coordination between the Government and the party, further strengthening the saffron surge.
The critics of Shah, who was booked for an alleged hate speech in UP during the poll campaign, is seen by critics as a highly polarizing figure.
That apart, Shah's political skills stand established beyond doubt and he carries the reputation of sticking to his brief and delivering.
Born in Mumbai in 1964, he was elected MLA from Gujarat's Sarkhej in four consecutive elections in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2007. He later shifted his constituency to Naranpura Assembly seat in 2012.
As the right hand man of the then Gujarat CM Modi, Shah held several key portfolios including Home, where in 2010 he came under attack for allegedly orchestrating a fake police encounter.
Following this charge, Shah had to resign and was arrested though he continued to maintain that he was being witch-hunted by political opponents on the Congress side. Shah later got bail on the condition that he won't stay in Gujarat.
He was allowed to return to Gujarat only in 2012 when he won assembly elections from Naranpura. Involved with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood, Shah became RSS volunteer during his college days in Ahmedabad.
His first meeting with Modi happened in 1982 in Ahmedabad RSS circles when Modi was only a RSS pracharak. Shah later joined the ABVP in 1983, the BJP in 1986 just a year ahead of Modi. Soon with his organizational skills Shah became an activist of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in 1987 and continued to rise in its hierarchy.
It was in 1995 when the BJP formed its first government in Gujarat under Keshubhai Patel that Modi and Shah together started working to expand party's base in a state where Congress had held sway for years. Soon Modi replaced Patel as CM and Shah's political career flourished under the tutelage of Modi, whom he is known to fondly call ‘saheb'.
Shah has graduated with a B.Sc. degree in biochemistry and later worked for his father's PVC pipes business.
