Dr Virendra Kumar: From a cycle repair shop to 6-time MP

Dr Virendra Kumar, who is among the 43 ministers who took oath on Wednesday in a major reshuffle in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, once used to fix bicycle tyres with his father and he, like PM Modi, wears his humble background over his sleeves. Known for his humility and simplicity, Kumar is a parliamentarian from Madhya Pradesh’s Tikamgarh.

Virendra Kumar is often spotted scouting his constituency on his scooter wearing white kurta pajamas. Like many repeats, Dr Kumar was also a minister in PM Modi’s cabinet in the first term but was dropped in 2019.

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Dr Virendra Kumar has roots with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He won his first election in 1996 from Sagar Lok Sabha constituency. He has since then represented BJP from Sagar and then Tikamgarh constituencies and is a member of parliamentary panel.

During his college years, he used to repair cycles at his father’s shop and was often scolded by his father for not focusing on work but he later started managing the shop to make ends meet. But this did not stop him from studying and making it big in life. He completed his Masters in commerce and doctorate in child labour.

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The six-time MP was in jail for 14 months during the famous JP movement, which was started by students under the leadership of Jai Prakash Narayan.

His induction in the cabinet is seen as a move to win over Dalit community in the region. His journey from a cycle repair shop to six-time MP is a source of inspiration for many