Mahesh Sharma rides on contacts

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism Mahesh Sharma’s stock is on the rise. In his ride at the Stand Up initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the UP Governor, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and Sharma in the e-rickshaw. However, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha, though of the same rank as Sharma’s, had to walk behind the rickshaw.

Sharma’s ascendance is attributed his proximity to a high-profile editor of a Hindi news channel. The senior journalist is said to have played a key role getting Sharma a ministerial berth and bringing his close to BJP president Amit Shah.