A. K. Sharma

Last updated

Arvind Kumar Sharma
A-k-sharma-urja-mantri.jpg
Minister of Urban Development
Government of Uttar Pradesh
Assumed office
25 March 2022
Residence Lucknow
Profession IAS officer, Politician
Website Official website

Arvind Kumar Sharma (born 11 July 1962) is an Indian politician from Uttar Pradesh, Former IAS officer and Bureaucrat. He is currently the Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh. [1] [2] Before joining politics, Sharma was an Indian Administrative Service officer from Gujarat Cadre of the 1988 batch. [3] [4] Sharma is considered a close aide of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi with whom he had worked for 20 years. He was also CEO, Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board and has also managed multiple Vibrant Gujarat summits. He joined the Prime Minister's Office as a Joint Secretary in 2014 and was elevated to the Additional Secretary rank in 2017. [5] [6] In 2019, he moved out of the PMO to become a secretary in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises but took voluntary retirement in January 2021. [7]

Contents

Early life and education

Arvind Kumar Sharma was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Mau district in 1962 to Shri Shivmurti Rai Sharma and Shrimati Rai Sharma. He completed schooling from his home district before graduating from Allahabad University. He pursued a master's degree in political science before joining the civil services. [8] [9] He is a Bhumihar Brahmin by caste and have stronghold amongst Bhumihars and Elite class. He is one of the trusted man of Narendra Modi.

Work in Gujarat

In 1988, Sharma became a civil servant and started his career as an IAS officer with the Gujarat cadre. His first posting was as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). In 1995, he took charge as the District Magistrate of Mehsana. [10] After Narendra Modi came to power in Gujarat in 2001, Sharma joined the Chief Minister’s Office as a Secretary and remained there till 2014 before shifting to the Centre. [11] Sharma worked in the Government of Gujarat for a long duration in various positions including District Development Officer in Vadodara, Managing Director of Industrial Extension Bureau, and the CEO of Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB). [12] His contribution in setting up the Gujarat section of the dedicated freight corridor and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor as well as Dholera Special Investment Region was noted by the media and the government alike. [13] Known for being a low-profile officer and a doer, Sharma is said to have coordinated the ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ Summit, a biennial investor summit that played a significant role in bringing in foreign investment to Gujarat. He is also said to have played a key role in getting the Tata Nano plant moved from Singur in West Bengal to Sanand in Gujarat in 2008. His work made him one of the closest aides of Modi. [14]

Work in PMO

Arvind Kumar Sharma remained as Secretary in Chief Minister’s Office till 2014 when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister. He then joined the PMO as a Joint Secretary in 2014 and was elevated to the Additional Secretary rank in 2017. [15] After his long stint in the PMO, Sharma was entrusted with the charge of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) ministry. [16]

A K Sharma with Narendra Modi and Saudi Prince A-K-sharma-with-Saudi-prince.jpg
A K Sharma with Narendra Modi and Saudi Prince
A K Sharma with PM Narendra Modi A-K-sharma-with-pm.jpg
A K Sharma with PM Narendra Modi

Voluntary Retirement and entry into politics

Arvind Kumar Sharma sought retirement in January 2021 from civil services, 18 months before his due retirement. A few days after his voluntary retirement, Sharma joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh. [17] He gained media attention for his Covid-19 relief work in the state at a time when the daily numbers of cases and deaths were increasing rapidly. Uttar Pradesh was severely affected in the second wave of Corona. New cases are still coming, but their numbers are decreasing. The noise of the outcry due to the virus has reduced slightly, but the situation is still to be improved upon. Amid this noise, a name is sometimes heard lightly and sometimes clearly, and the name is of Arvind Kumar Sharma, who has been working to elevate Varanasi in this challenging time. [18] He is the person who helped Varanasi cut Covid cases from 1,000+ to under 300. He was also praised and rewarded by Hon’ble PM Modi for his commendable work in the district. At the same time, Sharma offered 53,000 medical kits and other aid to manage CSR funds. He also supported other functionaries of BJP to help the state fight COVID battle. In the time of oxygen crisis in the country, he helped authorities to disseminate alternative medicine in the most affected areas. [19] If we see Sharma's tweets, we can understand that he was actively circulating leads, helping people arrange the required resources. Presently, along with his official role, he is working to enhance medical facilities in Varanasi and Mau. He is seen to be the brainchild behind the famous 'Kashi COVID response center'. [20] [21]

He also worked with party functionaries with providing the major inputs on mobilizing oxygen as well as medicines in worst-hit areas. After 20-years of active politics, Sharma has received praise from PM Modi and a more significant responsibility. [22] The largest state, Uttar Pradesh, is expecting an assembly election next year. With this, appointing Sharma as Vice-President of the State unit is not less than a question of life and death.

Took Oath as Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh

The name of Arvind Kumar Sharma, a former bureaucrat close to PM Narendra Modi, is also included. AK Sharma has got the responsibility of urban development, urban holistic development, urban employment and poverty alleviation, energy and additional energy sources. [1] [23]

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References

  1. 1 2 Zee Media Bureau. "PM मोदी के करीबी IAS एके शर्मा को मिली बड़ी जिम्मेदारी, बनाए गए नगर विकास और ऊर्जा मंत्री". zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  2. ↑ Hindustan, Times. "BJP appoints former IAS officer AK Sharma as vice president of Uttar Pradesh unit". HindustanTimes.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "Why A K Sharma is not just another Gujarat bureaucrat in the PM's circle or just another vice-president in Uttar Pradesh BJP". Indian Express. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "Not end of road for Modi's trusted IAS officer who took VRS, he could play bigger role in govt". The Wire. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "New BJP member Arvind Sharma is part of Modi's Mission 2022 in UP". India Today. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "PM Modi's Trusted Officer Of 20 Years Joins BJP, May Get Big UP Role". NDTV. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "Gujarat cadre IAS officer Arvind Kumar Sharma may be made minister in Yogi govt". Hundustan Times. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  8. ↑ GULAM JEELANI. "Who is AK Sharma, ex- bureaucrat who retired to join BJP in Uttar Pradesh". Money Control. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  9. ↑ Shashi Mishra. "Gujarat Cadre IAS Arvind Kumar Sharma Know all about him". Navbharat Times. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  10. ↑ NEWS18.COM. "From Gujarat CMO to PMO: How IAS Officer AK Sharma Became 'Modi's Man'". News 18. Retrieved 19 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ FreepressJournal. "Who is AK Sharma? All you need to know about". FreepressJournal. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  12. ↑ theprint.com. "Modi's key man in Gujarat". theprint. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  13. ↑ Rajiv Shah. "Demand for scarce Narmada waters for Dholera special investm A K Sharma". Times of India. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  14. ↑ Nivedita Mookerji & Premal Balan. "Vibrant Gujarat man is India Inc's PMO pointsman". Business Standard. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  15. ↑ Rahi Gaikwad. "2 bureaucrats from Gujarat move to PMO". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "A K Sharma takes charge as MSME Secretary". business standard. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  17. ↑ Outlook India. "Gujarat cadre IAS officer joins BJP after taking VRS". Outlook India. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  18. ↑ Kumar Anshuman. "Ex IAS officer and BJP MLC AK Sharma steps in to control worsening Varanasi pandemic". Economic Times. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  19. ↑ Pankaj Shah. "PM Narendra Modi's aide at helm of relief operations in East". Times of India. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  20. ↑ Pib. "PM Narendra Modi Kashi COVID response center". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  21. ↑ Neetu Chandra Sharma. "PM takes stock of Varanasi infections as caseload continues to climb". Live mint. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  22. ↑ timesofindia. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi praises Kashi model to curb Covid". timesofindia. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  23. ↑ Zee Media Bureau. "UP Cabinet Minister Profile: योगी सरकार में कद्दावर मंत्री बनकर उभरे AK Sharma बनाए गए नगर विकास और ऊर्जा मंत्री". navbharattimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
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