Amidst the capital’s grandeur, Annapurna Devi, an esteemed BJP MP, assumed the mantle of Union Minister for Women and Child Development on the auspicious occasion of Tuesday. A ceremonial passing of sweets from her predecessor, Smriti Irani, marked the commencement of her tenure.
In the annals of governance, Smriti Irani once held sway as the Union Minister for Women and Child Development in the Narendra Modi 2.0 administration. Her political fortunes, however, took a turn in the 2024 electoral skirmish at Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, a bastion historically entrenched in the folds of the Gandhi family, where she conceded victory to Congress nominee, Kishori Lal Sharma.
Subsequently, Irani found herself omitted from the Cabinet roster in the Narendra Modi 3.0 administration. Portfolio allocations transpired on Monday, June 19, following the august swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet comrades at Rashtrapati Bhawan on June 9.
Annapurna Devi, a stalwart of the BJP from Jharkhand, now ascends to this august role at the age of fifty-five. Concurrently, Savitri Thakur assumes office as Minister of State within the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the bestowed trust, Annapurna Devi articulated, “I extend heartfelt appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting me with this significant responsibility. I am committed to dedicating my utmost efforts to realize PM Modi’s vision of a developed India, ensuring that the welfare schemes aimed at women and children permeate to the farthest corners of our nation. Given the collaborative nature of the Women and Child Development Ministry with other governmental entities, we shall endeavor to synergize our efforts and achieve our objectives,” she proclaimed to the press corps following her investiture.
Yet, formidable challenges loom on the horizon for the newly appointed ministers, encompassing initiatives such as revisiting the legal age of matrimony for women, combatting the scourge of malnutrition among the vulnerable demographics, and fortifying measures to ensure women’s safety. Annapurna Devi’s odyssey in the political realm commenced with her triumph in a 1998 by-election to the Bihar Legislative Assembly. Subsequently, she assumed the mantle of Minister of State for Mines and Geology in the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) administration in undivided Bihar.
Transitioning to the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly from 2005 to 2014, Devi garnered accolades as a cabinet minister, helming portfolios spanning Irrigation, Women & Child Welfare, and Registration. Her allegiance shifted to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where she clinched victory from Koderma on the party’s ticket, vanquishing her rival, Babulal Marandi of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), by a resounding margin of 4.55 lakh votes.
In her latest electoral triumph, she fortified her stronghold over the Koderma constituency, prevailing over CPI(ML)L’s Vinod Kumar Singh by a margin of 3.77 lakh votes. Annapurna Devi’s sphere of influence extends beyond the mineral-rich precincts of Koderma, imprinting her indelible mark on the broader political canvas of the state.
The year 2021 heralded a new chapter in Devi’s political saga as she was inducted into the Union government as Minister of State for Education on July 7, thereby affirming her mettle as a multifaceted leader navigating the labyrinth of governance.