The Haryana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a new president. On Thursday, the party appointed Dr. Archana Gupta as the head of its state unit, making her only the second woman to hold this position in more than four decades. Gupta, a radiologist by profession, was serving as the party's state general secretary before this elevation.
Historical Context
Kamla Verma, a veteran BJP leader, was the first woman to serve as the president of the Haryana BJP unit, holding the post from 1980 to 1983. She passed away in 2021 at the age of 93. Archana Gupta now follows in her footsteps, taking over from Mohan Lal Badoli.
Appointment Announcement
BJP national president Nitin Nabin named the chiefs for the party's Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Tripura units on Thursday, according to separate notifications issued by BJP national general secretary Arun Singh. Gupta expressed her gratitude to the party leadership for entrusting her with this responsibility.
Gupta's Vision and Statements
Speaking to reporters in her hometown, Gupta emphasized that the BJP has consistently worked to provide opportunities to women by treating them as equal partners. She accused the Congress and other opposition parties of opposing the women's reservation amendment in Parliament and alleged that they had repeatedly blocked efforts to ensure reservation for women.
Gupta also expressed gratitude to several senior BJP leaders, including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Om Prakash Dhankar, Subhash Barala, and Mohan Lal Badoli, for strengthening the party organization in the state. She further thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President Nitin Nabin.
She stated that she would work towards ensuring greater participation of women in both economic and social sectors.
Political Career
Gupta's political journey began on September 9, 2015, when she became the president of the Panipat District Mahila Morcha (Women's Wing). On August 13, 2019, she assumed the role of BJP's Panipat district president and served in that capacity until January 5, 2024. On that date, the party entrusted her with the responsibility of state general secretary.
Before entering active politics, since 2014, Gupta had been serving as the Haryana vice president of 'Bharatiya Swasthya Rekha', a wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). From 2013 to 2014, she was a co-convener for the Medical Cell of the VHP.
Background and Education
By profession, Archana Gupta is a gold medalist doctor. She completed her MBBS in 1990 from PGIMS, Rohtak, followed by her MD in radio-diagnosis in 1994 from the same institute.
Born in 1968, Gupta spent her childhood amid discussions on patriotism and nation-building. She was deeply influenced by her grandfather, Surajbhan, a freedom fighter. Her father, Purushottam Das Gupta, holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and runs a business in Samalkha, while her mother, Santosh Gupta, is a homemaker.
Gupta's husband, Dr. Anil Gupta, is an ophthalmologist. The couple has one daughter, Arushi Gupta, who is also a doctor, and one son, Aviral Gupta.
Reactions
The Chief Minister, who was in Panipat, congratulated Gupta on her appointment and offered her sweets.
