Deepak Mhaskey replaces Amit Malviya as BJP social media chief

The BJP on Monday appointed Chhattisgarh-based academic and party leader Deepak Mhaskey as the head of its social media department, replacing Amit Malviya, who had led the party's social media outreach for 11 years.

Mhaskey, who has served as a chemistry professor and was an independent director on the board of Engineers India Limited (EIL), said he regarded the new assignment as a "huge responsibility" and thanked the BJP leadership for entrusting the role to him.

"I express my gratitude to the state organisation, the national organisation, our chief minister, our national president Nitin Nabin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all senior leaders and fellow party workers. I will make every effort to fulfil this responsibility with complete dedication," Mhaskey said.

Born in 1968, Mhaskey is currently the chairman of the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Limited (CGMSC) and holds the rank of a state minister. He is also a permanent invitee to the BJP's Chhattisgarh unit.

Mhaskey previously served as an independent director of Engineers India Limited, a central public sector undertaking involved in engineering consultancy and project management, particularly in the oil and gas and petrochemical sectors.

The BJP's decision comes as the party announced a wider set of organisational appointments under national president Nitin Nabin.

Malviya congratulated Mhaskey and the other newly appointed office bearers, saying he was confident that the party's digital communication would reach new milestones under the new leadership.

"Their appointments come at a crucial juncture as the party prepares to scale newer heights and take its message and organisation to every corner of the country," Malviya said in a post on X.

"I wish to particularly congratulate Shri Deepak Mhaskey ji, who will be taking over from me as the head of the BJP’s Social Media Department, and the co-conveners Smt. Priti Gandhi ji, Shri Shivanand Dwivedi ji, Shri Alok Bhatt ji and Shri Arun Yadav ji," he added.

Malviya said he had worked closely with the newly appointed leaders over the past decade and expressed confidence that the BJP's digital communication would achieve "newer milestones".

He also thanked the party's social media supporters for their backing during his tenure.

"A BIG THANK YOU to the BJP's massive support base on social media, a community brimming with commitment, energy and ideas," Malviya said, describing the group as an important force in reshaping India's public discourse.

Malviya said his interactions with BJP social media supporters over the 11 years he was at the helm would remain special to him.

"I hope you will continue to extend the same unstinted support to the party and to my successors in the years ahead," he said.

Malviya came into prominence in 2009 through a forum called 'Friends of BJP' and was appointed head of the party's IT department in 2015. He subsequently became a central figure in the BJP's digital and social media outreach.

The BJP's new social media leadership will include Mhaskey along with co-conveners Priti Gandhi, Shivanand Dwivedi, Alok Bhatt and Arun Yadav.