Why Amit Malviya Was Removed As BJP IT Cell Chief

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday, August 17, removed Amit Malviya as head of its national IT cell as part of a wider organisational reshuffle, with Chhattisgarh leader Deepak Mhaskey named as the new social media convenor. The changes also include four new coordinators from Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Haryana.

Amit Malviya's removal marks a change at the top of the BJP's digital organisation after more than a decade in which he became one of the party's most recognisable figures in political communication. The BJP has not officially stated a reason for removing him, and no replacement portfolio has been announced for Malviya so far. BJP Organisational Reshuffle 2026: Smriti Irani, Vasundhara Raje Get Key National Positions; Check Full List.

BJP's Organisational Reshuffle, Amit Malviya Removed as IT Cell Chief

भाजपा राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री @NitinNabin द्वारा निम्नलिखित सदस्यों को भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय पदाधिकारी एवं अन्य दायित्वों पर नियुक्त किया जा रहा है। (1/2) pic.twitter.com/tcTJsJG0dc

— BJP (@BJP4India) August 17, 2026

BJP Reshuffles Its Social Media Team

The reshuffle extends beyond the change at the top of the IT and social media setup. Preeti Gandhi has been appointed from Maharashtra, Shivanand Dwivedi from Delhi, Alok Bhatt from Uttarakhand and Arun Yadav from Haryana as new coordinators.

Deepak Mhaskey, who is associated with the BJP in Chhattisgarh, will take charge as social media convenor. Public profiles identify him as a BJP functionary from Chhattisgarh, and he has also held positions in state-linked organisations. Why Is Shehzad Poonawalla Resigning From BJP ‘Again’? Here’s What His Resignation Letter Says.

The appointments come under BJP president Nitin Nabin's organisational leadership and follow a period in which the party has continued to place significant emphasis on digital outreach and social media communication.

Why Was Amit Malviya Removed?

There is no officially stated reason for Malviya's removal from the BJP IT cell chief's position. The party's announcement, as reported, focuses on the new appointments and organisational changes rather than explaining why Malviya was replaced. There has been no official statement indicating that the move was linked to a specific controversy, performance issue or disciplinary action.

Therefore, any claim that Malviya was removed for a particular reason would currently be speculative. The timing does, however, come amid a broader BJP organisational restructuring. The party has been adjusting its organisational teams under Nitin Nabin, who took over as national president earlier this year.

Amit Malviya's Long Run At The BJP IT Cell

Malviya was appointed head of the BJP's national IT cell in 2015 under then party president Amit Shah. Over the years, he became a prominent figure in the BJP's social media operations and was also appointed a national spokesperson. In 2020, he was made co-in-charge of West Bengal ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections.

His role in the BJP's digital machinery made him a familiar figure in the party's online campaigns and political messaging. Malviya has not only been associated with the IT cell. His responsibilities have also included election-related organisational work. In 2026, he was among the BJP leaders involved in the party's West Bengal election campaign as a co-in-charge.

From Banking To BJP's Digital Operations

Malviya hails from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. He studied BBM at Dayalbagh Educational Institute before completing a PGDM in Finance Management from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Symbiosis International University.

Before entering full-time politics, he spent more than a decade in the banking sector. His corporate career included stints as an assistant manager at ICICI Bank, a senior vice-president at HSBC, and a vice-president at Bank of America.

His political rise began with digital outreach. In 2009, Malviya became associated with the “Friends of BJP” Facebook page, an early initiative aimed at creating a network of young supporters online. The experience helped establish his profile in the party's emerging digital ecosystem.

A Controversial And High-Profile Digital Career

Malviya's tenure as BJP IT cell chief also saw him become a frequent target of criticism from opposition parties and a prominent participant in political disputes on social media.

In 2020, Twitter labelled one of his posts concerning the farmers' protest as "manipulated media". The platform's action was linked to its policy on synthetic and manipulated content.

In 2022, Malviya was also at the centre of a controversy involving The Wire after the publication retracted reports concerning alleged links between him and Meta's content-moderation systems. The Wire acknowledged problems with the verification of material used in its reports.

More recently, the Delhi High Court directed the Samajwadi Party and its media cell to remove a post concerning Malviya that the court described as defamatory. These episodes have contributed to Malviya's high public profile, but none has been cited by the BJP as the reason for his removal from the IT cell.

What Happens To Amit Malviya Now?

For now, Malviya's next organisational responsibility remains unclear. The BJP has not announced a new portfolio for him alongside the reshuffle, nor has it publicly explained whether he will be assigned another role within the party.

The immediate change is therefore a leadership transition in the BJP's national digital setup, with Deepak Mhaskey taking over the social media convenor role and a new team of coordinators being brought in. Until the party provides further details, the reason behind Malviya's removal remains officially unstated.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 17, 2026 04:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).