VADODARA: From writing a sanedo on cleanliness as an MS University student to becoming a Lok Sabha MP and now taking charge of the BJP’s youth wing, Hemang Joshi’s political journey has taken him from student activism in Vadodara to a national role.At 35, Joshi succeeds Bengaluru MP Tejasvi Surya as president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). He already heads the BJP’s youth wing in Gujarat.
From MSU student to politician
A native of Porbandar, Joshi came to Vadodara for his studies at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, where he became involved with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).He served as an ABVP media in-charge and district executive member in 2010-11 and later became general secretary of the Faculty of Social Work in 2015-16. He became an active BJP worker in 2013.Joshi’s academic background is in physiotherapy and human resource management. According to his election affidavit profile on MyNeta, he completed a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from MSU in 2015 and a master’s in human resource management from the university in 2016.
The ‘sanedo’ that made him known
Joshi first gained wider attention through a sanedo on cleanliness that he wrote during his student days.The song was later institutionalised by the university, launched by then Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel and sung by singer Bhoomi Trivedi.Prime Minister Narendra Modi subsequently mentioned the song on Mann Ki Baat.His student politics also included opposition to a proposed comedy show by Kunal Kamra on the MSU campus. Joshi’s group protested against the event, following which the show was cancelled.
From local BJP work to Lok Sabha
Joshi’s first formal political responsibility came in 2022, when he was appointed vice-president of the Vadodara Nagar Prathmik Shikshan Samiti.He went on to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Vadodara on a BJP ticket and won the seat.MyNeta lists his profession as social worker and records no criminal cases in his election affidavit.He was among the youngest Lok Sabha candidates from Gujarat in the 2024 election.
Took India’s message on terrorism abroad
Joshi’s profile expanded beyond youth politics after his election to Parliament.In 2025, he was part of an all-party parliamentary delegation that travelled to Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore following Operation Sindoor.The 17-day outreach focused on briefing policymakers and think tanks about India’s position on terrorism and its zero-tolerance approach.With his appointment as BJYM president, Joshi moves from heading the BJP’s youth wing in Gujarat to leading it nationally.
