Vijay Sampla, who took oath as a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet Sunday, is a first-time BJP MP from the Hoshiarpur (reserved) seat.
Sampla is not a majo name in Punjab's politics.
But Sampla, 53, who comes from the Ravidassia Dalit community, has been chosen because the BJP is looking at its own prospects for the 2017 assembly polls in Punjab. Punjab has the highest percentage (over 29 percent) of the Dalit community among all states.
Sampla, a businessman, was picked up by the BJP for the Hoshiarpur seat in the recent Lok Sabha polls though he had not contested any election earlier.