10 July 2014 :: Amit Shah is the current president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Shah was elected as an MLA from Sarkhej in four consecutive elections: 1997 (bye-election), 1998, 2002 and 2007. He is a close associate of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and held a number portfolios in Government of Gujarat, when Modi was the Chief Minister. In 2010,
Shah is known for his organizational skills. He rose to national prominence after orchestrating BJP’s massive win in Uttar Pradesh, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Amit Shah was born in Mumbai, in a well-to-do family. His father Anilchandra Shah, a businessman from Mansa, owned a successful PVC pipe business. Amit Shah did his schooling in Mehsana, and then moved to Ahmedabad to study biochemistry at CU Shah Science College. He graduated with a B.Sc. degree in biochemistry, and then worked for his father’s business. He also worked as a stockbroker and in co-operative banks in Ahmedabad.
Shah was involved with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood, participating in the neighbourhood shakhas (branches) as a boy. He formally became a RSS swyamsevak (volunteer) during his college days in Ahmedabad. He first met Narendra Modi in 1982, in the Ahmedabad RSS circles. At that time, Modi was a minor RSS pracharak, working as in-charge of youth activities in city.
Amit Shah is married to Sonal Shah, and the couple has a son named Jay. Shah was very close to his mother, who died from an illness on 8 June 2010
