New Delhi: The BJP has appointed Chhattisgarh leader and academic Deepak Mhaskey as the new head of its social media department, ending Amit Malviya’s 11-year tenure in charge of the party’s digital outreach.
Mhaskey, a former independent director on the board of Engineers India Limited (EIL), has also worked as a chemistry professor in Chhattisgarh. Born in 1968, he currently heads the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Limited (CGMSC) and holds the rank of a minister of state.
He is also a permanent invitee to the Chhattisgarh BJP unit. During his tenure as an independent director at EIL, he was associated with the central public-sector company involved in engineering consultancy and project management in the oil and gas as well as petrochemical sectors.
Reacting to his appointment, Mhaskey called it a “huge responsibility” and said he was honoured that the party had chosen a worker for the position, as reported by The New Indian Express.
“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,” he said.
Focus On Elections
Speaking about the BJP’s plans for social media, Mhaskey said the party’s central objective would remain winning elections and serving the people. He said the department would deploy its digital network in pursuit of that goal.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party’s priorities are absolutely clear: we must win elections to serve the public, and our entire team will work wholeheartedly towards this using social media. Propaganda will continue to appear in the future, just as it has in the past; however, the truth cannot remain hidden. While propaganda may create a momentary atmosphere, if we consistently provide the right answers over the long term, people’s misconceptions are dispelled and the Bharatiya Janata Party will certainly proceed in that direction,” he said.
Academic Turned Organiser
Mhaskey began his professional career in education, including a period as a chemistry professor in Chhattisgarh. He later became involved in BJP organisational work, administrative responsibilities and election-related activities.
His elevation marks a change in the party’s digital leadership after Malviya spent more than a decade directing its social media operations.
Malviya first rose to prominence in 2009 through the “Friends of BJP” platform. In 2015, he was appointed head of the party’s IT department and subsequently led its wider social media campaign for 11 years.
Congratulating Mhaskey, Malviya said he had had the opportunity to work closely with each of the newly appointed leaders during the past decade. He expressed confidence that the BJP’s digital communication network would reach “newer 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.
He specifically welcomed Mhaskey’s appointment as head of the BJP’s Social Media Department and named Priti Gandhi, Shivanand Dwivedi, Alok Bhatt and Arun Yadav as its co-conveners.
Malviya Bids Farewell
In a separate farewell message, Malviya thanked the BJP’s large community of social media supporters, describing it as a group sustained by commitment, enthusiasm and ideas.
“A BIG THANK YOU” to the BJP’s massive support base on social media, he said, adding that the community had remained united through “thick and thin” and played a decisive part in changing India’s public discourse.
He also voiced confidence in India’s future under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, saying the role of the party’s social media supporters in that journey would be remembered.