New Delhi: BJP leader Satish Upadhyay's appointment as the president of the Delhi unit marks his eventful journey from a school-going ‘sangh karyakarta' to the top party post in the state, in times of tumultuous politics in the national capital.
Upadhyay, currently chairman of the Standing Committee of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, makes the transition after gaining valuable experience from his student politics years and his stint at the civic body, which is likely to hold him in good stead in days ahead.
Born in Agra, the 52-year-old leader began his political journey in early 1980s from the ‘sangh shakha' in Chanakyapuri area in the national capital, before university days ushered him into party politics.
A graduate in Political Science from Delhi University, Upadhyay entered the party's student-wing ABVP and contested the varsity's union elections to become its vice-president during 82-83.
His political journey from thereon remained upward, eventually attested in his appointment as the vice-president of Delhi BJP in 2012, a post he held till 2012, before diving into municipal elections.
Fighting from Malviya Nagar, Upadhyay emerged victorious as a councillor in 2012, and assumed greater responsibilities as a chairman of the education committee of the SDMC.
Helming the department, he brought pioneering changes including the installation of CCTV cameras in the mid-day meal kitchens of the SDMC, thereby becoming the first municipal corporation to have done so.
After serving that position for two years, he was recently unanimously elected as the chairman of the standing committee of the south corporation.
No sooner he had assumed charge, the leader outlined his vision for the corporation, ranging from prompt delivery of birth and death certificates to international certifications of all health services under the civic body.
But, it was his student politics days, after which he really rose up the party rung.
From 1988-90, he served as the organising general secretary of the BJYM (Bhartiya Janta Party Yuva Morcha), Delhi state and became its vice-president from 1992-94.
From there onwards he assumed many important positions in the party including becoming the Treasurer, BJYM, All India from 1996-98, under the leadership of party leader Uma Bharati.
His rise then just continued as he assumed the charge of secretary of Delhi BJP from 2009-10 and before serving as the president of state's BJYM, from 2002-04.
Upadhyay's appointment comes at a time when suspense over the Delhi Assembly elections continues to loom large over the state, with the BJP keeping the cards close to its chest with regard to its future strategy in the state.
Soon after the appointment, though he outlined the priority for the party in the state he said, “it was too premature to comment on it now...The national leadership will decide the future course of action.” “My priority is to strengthen the party and carry forward the mandate given to BJP by the people of this country,” Upadhyay told PTI.
“Our priority is to keep the organisation united and take every one along,” he said.
BJP had won 32 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly in the last elections, falling short of a simple majority.
