Suresh Kashyap’s journey from Air Force to BDC member to second-time BJP Lok Sabha poll nominee in Shimla
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TNR Desk
The BJP has renominated its sitting MP Suresh Kashyap (52) from the Shimla parliamentary constituency in Himachal Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held in April-May 2024.
Born on March 23, 1971, to Chambel Kashyap and Shanti Devi of Papalah village in Bajga panchayat of Sirmaur district, he started his political career as Block Development Committee (BDC) member. In 2005, Pachhad became panchayat samiti and Kashyap was elected a BDC member from Bajga ward. He subsequently joined the BJP and in 2007 became the Sirmaur district president of the BJP’s SC Morcha. In 2009, he was appointed the state general secretary of the BJP SC Morcha.
Lost maiden poll to Gangu Ram Musafir
In 2007, he contested the Assembly election for the first time on the BJP ticket from Pachhad constituency, but lost to then Congress leader and former minister Gangu Ram Musafir. In 2012, he contested the Assembly election for the second time on the BJP ticket and defeated Musafir. He won his second Assembly elections from the same seat in 2017.
The BJP gave him the Lok Sabha ticket from the Shimla reserved constituency in 2019, an election he won with a margin of record 3,27,515 votes against his nearest rival Col Dhani Ram Shandil (retd) of the Congress. As an MP, he has served as a member of various parliamentary committees, including those on ‘personnel, public grievances, law and justice’, ‘absence of members from the sittings of the house’, ‘external affairs’ and the ‘consultative committee for ministry of food processing industries’.
Headed Himachal BJP, but faced 2 major defeats
On July 22, 2020, he was appointed the president of the Himachal BJP state unit. He had replaced Dr Rajiv Bindal, who had to resign from the post amid a controversy related to an alleged health department scam.
However, the Himachal BJP had to face two major defeats under Kashyap’s tenure, one in the 2021 bypolls to Mandi Lok Sabha and three Assembly constituencies and the second in the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections. The BJP in 2023 again handed over the reins of the state unit to Bindal, a leader known for his political acumen and strategies.
Kashyap did his primary and secondary education from Gagal Shikor School and higher education at the Government Senior Secondary School at Sarahan in Pachhad. His father retired from the education department while mother was a housewife.
Retired from Indian Air Force in 2004
On April 24, 1988, Kashyap joined the Indian Air Force as a constable. After serving for 16 years, he retired from the Air Force as SNCO in 2004. He continued his higher education while serving in the Air Force and did MA in public administration and a diploma in tourism and PGDCA. After retirement, he even did MPhil in public administration.
