Mansukh Mandaviya, India’s new health minister, will lead the country’s fight against Covid.

On Wednesday, Mansukh Mandaviya, 49, was one of seven ministers elevated to the Cabinet.

New Delhi: India’s new Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, takes over the country’s Covid fight at a crucial time when the government is developing a strategy to prevent a third wave of infections by increasing vaccination rates.

Mansukh Mandaviya, as Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, has visited the facilities of three vaccine manufacturers in the nation in the last six days: Serum Institute of India in Pune, Zydus in Ahmedabad, and a Covaxin-producing plant in the same city.

The 49-year-old Gujarat legislator, who is known for riding his bicycle to parliament, is one of seven ministers appointed to the Cabinet on Wednesday. He keeps the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

Mr. Mandaviya earned a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science and a master’s degree in political science from Gujarat Agricultural University.

He began his political career as a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) before joining the BJP. In 2002, Mr. Mandaviya, being 28 years old, became the youngest MLA in the state.

He was elected to the Rajya Sabha representing Gujarat in 2012.

In 2016, he became the first member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet. He was the Minister of State for Roads, Highways, and Shipping.

“Narendra Modi-Ji and Amit Shah-Ji have once again demonstrated their faith in me by inviting me to join their administration. I owe them both a debt of gratitude “Today, he stated.

Mr. Mandaviya’s predecessor, Harsh Vardhan, was asked to retire, along with his deputy Ashwani Chaube, as the face of the government’s attempts to combat COVID-19.

In the disastrous second wave of Covid in April-May, when cities ran out of oxygen and hospitals were swamped, Harsh Vardhan bore the brunt of the government’s tremendous battle to keep increasing cases under control. India’s handling of the Covid case garnered criticism and was regarded as tarnishing the government’s image.