BJP leader from North India given Minister of State rank

The Maharashtra government has appointed Mumbai BJP leader Amarjeet Mishra vice-chairman of Maharashtra Film, Stage & Cultural Development Corporation Ltd (MFSCDCL), a post which carries Minister of State (MoS) rank.

Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde is chairman of MFSCDCL, a Maharashtra government undertaking which is commonly known as Film City.

In order to accord Mishra, who originally hails from North India, MoS status, the BJP-led government created a new post of MFSCDCL vice-chairman and appointed him to that position by issuing a GR (government resolution) earlier this week.

Mishra, who is currently General Secretary in Mumbai BJP, also runs two social and cultural NGOs - Abhiyan and Deep Kamal Foundation.

Mishra was recently nominated as a member of the Maharashtra Rajya Hindi Sahitya Akademi.

Built in 1977 by the government, the MFSCDCL-run Film City, in suburban Goregaon, is mandated to provide facilities to the entertainment industry.

It provides a range of locations for shooting films and TV serials, including a temple, prison, court, lake, mountains, fountains, villages, picnic spots, garden and even a man-made waterfall.

Speaking about his appointment, Mishra said he will try his best to perform his duties and ensure the betterment of the facility and also the entertainment industry.