Amit Shah

Amit Anilchandra Shah (born 22 October 1964) is an Indian politician currently serving as the Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation in the Government of India since 2019. He is widely regarded as the chief architect of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) massive electoral expansion and is considered one of the most powerful politicians in India. Shah is often referred to as the "Chanakya of Indian politics" for his strategic genius. Born in Mumbai to a Gujarati Hindu family, Shah began his political career as a BJP worker in Gujarat. He first came into contact with Narendra Modi through the RSS in the 1980s and the two formed a close political partnership. Shah was elected as an MLA from Sarkhej in Gujarat in 1997 and went on to hold multiple positions in the Gujarat state government. He served as Minister of State for Home, Transport, and Parliamentary Affairs in Gujarat. Shah rose to national prominence when he was appointed as the President of the BJP in 2014, a position he held until 2020. Under his leadership, the BJP expanded its footprint across India, winning numerous state elections and strengthening the party's organization in states where it had little presence. He was instrumental in the party's landslide victory in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. His ability to manage complex electoral strategies, build alliances, and energize the party's grassroots machinery earned him the reputation as one of India's most formidable political operators. As Home Minister, Shah has been at the center of several landmark decisions including the abrogation of Article 370 (which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir), the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. He has also overseen India's internal security apparatus, including counter-terrorism operations and management of India's borders. Critics accuse him of using state agencies for political purposes, while supporters credit him with decisive governance and strengthening national security.