Chandigarh

Newly appointed Haryana BJP president Archana Gupta formally assumed charge as the state unit chief on Wednesday at party's state headquarters in Panchkula in the presence of several senior party leaders, including Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

She was appointed as the party's Haryana unit chief on May 28. Gupta, a doctor by profession (radiologist), is the second female president of the party in Haryana in more than four decades.

Kamla Verma, a veteran BJP leader, served as the first female president of the BJP's Haryana unit from 1980 to 1983.

Gupta took over from Mohan Lal Badoli. Earlier, she served as Panipat District Mahila Morcha (Women's Wing) president.

At the time of her appointment as party's state unit chief, she was Haryana BJP state general secretary.

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BJP national vice president Saudan Singh, party senior leader and Haryana affairs incharge Dr Satish Poonia, Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh, Haryana Ministers Shruti Choudhry, Arti Rao, outgoing state BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli, senior BJP leaders O P Dhankar, Subhash Barala and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.