BJP drops Amit Malviya as IT Cell chief amid Gen Z meme war: Who is Deepak Mhaskey?
New Delhi/IBNS: In a major organisational rejig, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday removed its IT Cell head Amit Malviya, at a time when the party is facing a new mode of online political communication after the NEET paper-leak protests.
Malviya was at the helm of the BJP's IT Cell when the party encountered a new form of online protest largely driven by Gen Z.
The campaign relied heavily on memes and reels, marking a shift from the conventional X posts that have long been a key part of the ruling party's digital communication strategy.
The development has assumed significance as the BJP faces political pressure following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation amid widespread protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party.
Malviya, who headed the BJP IT Cell for several years, has been replaced by Deepak Mhaskey, a party leader from Chhattisgarh.
Who is Deepak Mhaskey?
Academic background
Mhaskey holds a postgraduate degree in Chemistry (M.Sc.) and began his career as a college Chemistry professor.
Experience in agriculture
He has also been involved in horticulture and organic farming and has more than three decades of professional experience in the field.
Expertise in electoral data
One of Mhaskey's notable areas of expertise is the collection and analysis of electoral data. He has also worked with data related to government beneficiary schemes, with his reports reportedly being used by private and government agencies.
Association with BJP
According to his LinkedIn profile, Mhaskey has been associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party since around 2009.
Public-sector role
Mhaskey has served as an Independent Director at Engineers India Ltd (EIL).
Role in Chhattisgarh
He is currently serving as Chairman of the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Ltd (CGMSC), a position carrying the rank of a state minister, according to his public profile.
His appointment to head the BJP's IT Cell marks a significant change in the party's digital communication machinery, particularly at a time when social media-driven political campaigns are increasingly being shaped by short-form content, memes and reels.
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