A Professor-Turned-Political Strategist: Deepak Mhaskey Becomes BJP’s New Digital Voice

NEW DELHI — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced on Monday, August 17, 2026, the appointment of 58-year-old political strategist and former academic Deepak Mhaskey as its new national social media convenor.

Mhaskey succeeds Amit Malviya, who led the party’s digital and social media operations for over a decade. The leadership change comes as BJP national president Nitin Nabin announced a refreshed roster of national office-bearers aimed at reshaping the party’s digital communication strategy and expanding its outreach to Gen Z voters ahead of upcoming state assembly elections.

Profile and Background of Deepak Mhaskey

Born in 1968 in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Deepak Mhaskey brings a diverse background spanning academia, corporate governance, electoral data analysis, and digital campaigning.

Key milestones of Mhaskey’s career include:

• Academic Background: Holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Chemistry, a diploma in cement technology, and certification in computer programming. He spent several years working as a college Chemistry professor.

• Party IT Cell Tenure: Associated with the BJP’s IT cell in Chhattisgarh since 2009, later serving as the state unit's IT cell in-charge and state spokesperson.

• Electoral Campaign Experience: Managed high-decibel digital media campaigns for assembly elections across Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.

• Corporate and Public Governance: Appointed non-official independent director on the board of central public sector enterprise Engineers India Limited (EIL) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas from 2021 to 2026. He also serves as chairman of the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Limited with Cabinet Minister of State rank.

• Agricultural Background: Owns decades of experience in horticulture and organic farming.

Strategy Focus: Tackling Misinformation and Expanding Youth Engagement

Outlining his strategic priorities following the appointment, Mhaskey stated that his primary objective will be to counter false narratives generated by political opponents while leveraging short-form video content to connect with younger demographics.

"Our main focus will be to tackle fake narratives spread by the opposition, including the misuse of artificial intelligence in short video reels to twist facts," Mhaskey said. "We will work in coordination across central and state units to ensure factual and positive content reaches voters effectively across every platform."

The newly established national digital team will feature four social media co-convenors: Priti Gandhi, Shivanand Dwivedi, Alok Bhatt, and Arun Yadav.

Official Sources Section

Details regarding the national leadership appointments were formally announced through official organizational releases issued by the central office of the Bharatiya Janata Party and confirmed by statements posted on social media by party president Nitin Nabin and outgoing convenor Amit Malviya.

Quote Section

In an official public statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), outgoing BJP social media head Amit Malviya stated:

"I wish to particularly congratulate Shri Deepak Mhaskey ji, who will be taking over from me as the head of the BJP's Social Media Department... I am confident that under their leadership, the BJP's digital communication will achieve newer milestones and continue to shape India's public discourse with conviction, creativity and clarity."

Why It Matters

The transition in leadership of the BJP’s social media arm signals an evolving approach to digital communication, emphasizing data-driven campaigns, short-form video engagement, and structured counter-disinformation strategies. For political observers, voters, and party workers, Mhaskey’s appointment underlines a shift toward technocratic campaign management as political parties adapt to changing digital consumer behavior.

Key Facts at a Glance

• New Appointee: Deepak Mhaskey (58, Raipur, Chhattisgarh).

• Role: BJP National Social Media Convenor.

• Predecessor: Amit Malviya (served 11 years).

• Co-Convenors: Priti Gandhi, Shivanand Dwivedi, Alok Bhatt, Arun Yadav.

• Key Focus: Countering AI-driven misinformation, expanding short-form media outreach, and improving central-state digital coordination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Deepak Mhaskey?

Deepak Mhaskey is a 58-year-old BJP leader from Chhattisgarh, former Chemistry professor, data analyst, and newly appointed national social media convenor for the BJP.

Who did Deepak Mhaskey replace as BJP social media head?

He replaced Amit Malviya, who led the party’s IT and social media department for 11 years.

What prior positions has Deepak Mhaskey held?

He previously served as Chhattisgarh BJP IT cell chief, state party spokesperson, independent director at Engineers India Limited (EIL), and chairman of the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation.

What is the new BJP social media team's main priority?

The team’s stated priorities are countering opposition misinformation, addressing AI-generated false content, and engaging Gen Z audiences via platform-specific communication.

Source: Bharatiya Janata Party | Engineers India Limited