1) Mathura-born Shrikant Sharma‘s foray into politics happened during his college days in Delhi University. He joined the ABVP, the students’ wing of the RSS, in PGDAV College in 1991.
2) In 1992, he contested for the post of General Secretary in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU), giving a tough fight to the NSUI, which was then at the helm of university politics. This laid down the foundation for a tectonic shift of the ABVP’s fortunes in years to come.
3) Due to his remarkable work as a National Executive member of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Nitin Gadkari appointed Sharma as the media convenor of the BJP in 2010 as soon as he assumed office as the National President of BJP.
4) In the general elections of 2014, Sharma had aspired to contest from the Mathura parliamentary seat but he was passed over due to the candidacy of Bollywood star Hema Malini.
5) The credit for the BJP’s image makeover in the media is often given to him.
6) Sharma‘s ascendancy in the BJP happened after Amit Shah took charge of the party. His proximity to the national leadership is well-known in party circles; with rumours adrift about his stamp of approval required to even meet Shah.
7) The 46-year-old cabinet minister was elected from Mathura Assembly by defeating his nearest rival by over 1 lakh votes.
