From speaker to deputy CM, Kavinder comes a long way
JAMMU: Kavinder Gupta, an old BJP guard and an RSS loyalist, has been chosen in place of Dr Nirmal Singh with an aim to match People’s Democratic Party (PDP) shoulder to shoulder.
Elected from Gandhi Nagar assembly constituency in 2014, in his first plunge at the hustings, Gupta had defeated Congress heavyweight Raman Bhalla.
Kavinder was appointed as Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly on March 18, 2015.
Before becoming an MLA from Gandhi Nagar, Gupta also remained Mayor of the cashstrapped Jammu Municipal Corporation for three terms.
He was the first Mayor of the corporation.
Born on December 2, 1959, the political career of the 59-year-old leader began with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
A thoroughly dedicated RSS man, he also worked at key posts in Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha before being inducted into state unit of the BJP.
He is also considered close to RSS veteran Ram Lal.
During the period of Emergency, he had to spend 13 months in prison in Gurdaspur area of Punjab.
Gupta had joined RSS Shaka when he was just 13 years of age. A graduate, he has two daughters and a son.
An honest and upright man, he has been working for the poor and downtrodden.
After the oath ceremony, Gupta said since the party high command has reposed faith in him, he will work to ensure equitable development of all the three regions of the state.