Amit Shah now India's longest-serving Home Minister: The journey of country's 'second most powerful man'

Amit Shah was born to Gujarati parents Kusumben and Anilchandra Shah on October 22, 1964, in Mumbai.

Senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Tuesday earned the unique distinction of becoming India's longest-serving Home Minister. He completed 2,258 days (6 years 65 days) as the country's Home Minister, surpassing the tenure of BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani’s 2,256 days (6 years 64 days) at the post.  He had also been the home minister of Gujarat.

Shah, who has been often called India's "second most powerful man", rose as the BJP's master organiser when its alliance secured 73 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls under his leadership as the party's general secretary.

Early life

Shah was born to Gujarati parents Kusumben and Anilchandra Shah on October 22, 1964, in Mumbai.  He completed 16 years of his schooling in his ancestral village in Mansa, Gujarat and later moved to Ahmedabad with his family. According to reports, Shah has been an avid reader since childhood. He is also said to have been inspired by the biographies of various national figures.

Beginning of political life

Shah's political journey began at the age of 16 when he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a 'Swayamsevak' in 1980. He immersed himself in the activities of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) soon after.

His appointment as the secretary of the BJP's Ahmedabad city in 1989 marked a significant milestone in his political trajectory. Shah's influence continued to grow as he assumed key roles, such as serving as the chief campaigner and election strategist for stalwarts like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani.

Shah, who is often likened to the modern-day Chanakya, became the youngest president of the Bharatiya Janata Party at 49 in 2014, later assuming office as one of the youngest Union Home Ministers at 54 in 2019.

Shah also faced legal challenges, notably in a high-profile fake encounter case in 2010.

Importance of August 5

Abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, is probably the biggest feather in Shah's crown. He introduced the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019, issued by then President Ram Nath Kovind, which superseded the 1954 order and applied all provisions of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir without exceptions.

The presidential order using Article 370(3) allowed the President to amend or repeal the article with the concurrence of the state's Constituent Assembly. With Jammu and Kashmir under President's Rule and no functioning of the state assembly, Shah could push through the resolution.

The Rajya Sabha passed it with 125 votes in favour and 61 against, followed by the Lok Sabha's approval with 370 votes for and 70 against.

Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, also introduced by Shah, bifurcated the state into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without one.

Key aspects of Shah’s tenure

During his tenure, Jammu and Kashmir reportedly  recorded a decline of over 70 per cent in terror-related activities.

The passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 was another hallmark. It fast-tracked citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

He was also a key force behind the abolition of triple talaq and the initiation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

He also played a key role in overhauling India's criminal justice system by spearheading the introduction of three landmark laws: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023. These replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act, respectively.

Shah recently reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating Maoism in Chhattisgarh by March 31, 2026.

As part of the zero-tolerance policy against Naxalism, 90 Naxals have been killed, 104 arrested, and 164 have surrendered in the year 2025 so far. In 2024, 290 Naxalites were neutralised, 1090 were arrested, and 881 surrendered.

Shah continues to be a towering figure in Indian politics, with his sights set on ensuring a strong BJP presence in upcoming elections.