Cabinet expansion: Of all new Modi ministers, Mandaviya has the toughest job at hands

Among the new ministers in the Modi government, Mansukh Mandaviya has the toughest job at hand. Mandaviya has taken over as the new health minister amid the fight against Covid-19.

Dr Harshvardhan was expectedly booted out of the health ministry after heavy criticism of the govt's anti-Covid efforts during the deadly Covid wave.

49-year-old Mandaviya takes over at a time when the government is trying to stave off a third Covid wave and ramp up vaccinations.

Mandaviya began as a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and rose up the ranks in the BJP. At 28, he became the youngest MLA in 2002.

Mandaviya was Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers before being promoted to the Cabinet rank with the important health portfolio.

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He joined PM Modi's first government in 2016 as Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Chemical and Fertilizers.