A surprise pick that came among the three Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from the North East who were sworn-in in the council of ministers on Sunday was Rajya Sabha MP Pabitra Margherita. The other two BJP leaders who were inducted into the council of ministers from northeast were Kiren Rijiju and Sarbanand Sonowal.
Margherita, who made his mark from the world of Assamese film industry to the corridors of power, was given a berth as minister of state in the Modi 3.0 cabinet and was administered the oath of office and secrecy by the President on Sunday.
The 49-year-old BJP leader has held various positions within the party including that of party’s Assam unit spokesperson since 2014. Being the political secretary to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Margherita futher solidified his role in the state’s political landscape.
He has also been the in-charge of party’s social media cell and district in-charge for the Kamrup district BJP unit.
Apart from his political roles, he also held administrative posts and served as the chairman of the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio of the state government from 2017 to 2021. He also held the position of member secretary of the state-level advisory committee for students and youth welfare from November 2021 to March 2022.
The Rajya Sabha MP’s career spans from film industry to editorial jobs and politics. Beisdes his political affiliation, he is also known for acting and producing a number of Assamese films including the 2008 film ‘Mon Jai’. As per media reports, he was the founder Chief Editor of a monthly Assamese magazine ‘Maya’ from 1998 to 2000.
Margherita, hailing from Tinsukia district in Assam, has a diploma in Textile Technology from Assam Textile Institue, Assam, as per his affidavit filed during the Rajya Sabha elections in 2022. As of that year, Margherita had moveable assets worth over Rs 19 lakh and immovable assets worth Rs 4,50,000, as per the affidavit.
His wife, Gayatri Mahanata is also a performing artist.
