Ex-RSS man brings experience in rural development to Modi govt

Mohanbhai Kundariya, a former RSS 'pracharak', is known to be a leader of Gujarat's Patel community who has shown his acumen in the field of rural development.
Sworn in as a Minister of State today, 63-year old Kundariya had also enjoyed the same rank in 2001-02 under Narendra Modi when he was chief minister of Gujarat. Kundariya was then the MoS for Rural Development and became a well-known face in the agriculture and cooperative sector.
He was also caught in a controversy during the recent Lok Sabha poll campaign when he was caught on camera walking over the backs of some students at a function. He had said at the time that it was the students who had requested him to walk on their backs.

Kundariya -- who has also been a five-term MLA from Tankara Assembly constituency near Rajkot -- is considered to be a close associate of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, BJP president Amit Shah and other ministers in the state.
Born on September 6, 1951, Kundariya joined RSS as a 'Pracharak' (campaigner) in the early 1980s before moving to BJP in the 1990s.
After finishing his schooling, Kundariya started as an agriculturist and later entered the cooperative sector in Saurashtra, where he emerged as a leader. He ran a business of agricultural tools and machinery and was also the president of the local diamond merchants' association.

Kundariya was first elected as the MLA of Tankara in 1995 and had remained unbeaten from there before moving to the Lok Sabha.
Riding the 'Modi wave', Kundariya wrested the Rajkot Lok Sabha seat from sitting Congress MP Kunwarji Bavalia in the polls earlier this year.