Even though Deepak Mhaske served as a state-level spokesperson and headed the Chhattisgarh social media cell in the past, he has been little known even in the state. His rise to the helm of Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT Cell marks the arrival of a relatively quiet organiser into the national spotlight.
Until now, the 58-year-old Mhaske had largely worked behind the scenes, as someone balancing academic, corporate, and political roles that together shaped a career unusual for a digital strategist in Indian politics. But BJP’s latest reshuffle of its top core team has now catapulted him to national limelight.
Mhaske began his professional journey as a chemistry professor, armed with an MSc in the subject, a diploma in cement technology, and training in computer programming. His early years were spent in classrooms and laboratories before he shifted focus to agriculture and horticulture. Over three decades, he cultivated expertise in organic farming and even ventured briefly into road construction, experiences that gave him a practical grounding far removed from the political corridors he would later inhabit. Alongside this diverse career, he also served as an independent director on the board of Engineers India Limited (EIL), a central public sector undertaking engaged in engineering consultancy and project management, particularly in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors.
It was Mhaske’s interest in data analysis that gradually pulled him closer to politics. He developed a reputation for compiling and interpreting electoral statistics and welfare scheme records, producing reports that found use in both government and private agencies. This analytical bent dovetailed with his growing involvement in BJP’s Chhattisgarh organisation, where he became a familiar figure in the state’s IT Cell from 2009 onward and later served as a spokesperson.
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Parallel to his political work, Mhaske entered the corporate boardroom. In 2021, he was appointed as an independent director of Engineers India Limited, a public-sector engineering consultancy under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. His tenure, renewed once before ending earlier this year, saw him serve on key committees ranging from audit to risk management. He also lent his support to social initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, rural libraries, and digital literacy campaigns, reflecting a blend of governance and grassroots outreach.
Mhaske’s appointment as BJP’s IT Cell chief in the reshuffle effected by party national president Nitin Nabin on Monday, August 18, ended the 11-year tenure in that position by Amit Malviya, who had become quite a controversial figure due to the questionable methods he used in his job.
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His responsibilities expanded further when he took charge as chairman of Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Limited, a state-run body overseeing medical supplies. This role placed him at the intersection of administration and politics, reinforcing his ability to navigate both government machinery and party organisation. That combination now precedes his elevation to BJP’s national IT Cell, where his data-driven approach is expected to shape the party’s digital strategy.
Mhaske is known to be deeply rooted in family values. Colleagues describe him as someone who balances professional commitments with a strong sense of personal responsibility. His family has remained largely outside the limelight, but those close to him note that his household has been a steady anchor throughout his varied career, supporting his transitions from academia to agriculture, corporate governance, and finally national politics.
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As Mhaske steps into his new role, observers are watching how his analytical skills and organisational experience will translate into digital campaigning at scale. For a man who has worn many hats—professor, farmer, board member, government chairman—the IT Cell appointment is both a culmination of years of quiet groundwork and the beginning of a more visible chapter in Mhaske’s political journey.
