Sworn in as a Minister of State today, 63-year old Kundariya had also enjoyed the same rank in 2001-02 under Narendra Modi when he was chief minister of Gujarat. Kundariya was then the MoS for Rural Development and became a well-known face in the agriculture and cooperative sector.
He was also caught in a controversy during the recent Lok Sabha poll campaign when he was caught on camera walking over the backs of some students at a function. He had said at the time that it was the students who had requested him to walk on their backs.
Born on September 6, 1951, Kundariya joined RSS as a 'Pracharak' (campaigner) in the early 1980s before moving to BJP in the 1990s.
After finishing his schooling, Kundariya started as an agriculturist and later entered the cooperative sector in Saurashtra, where he emerged as a leader. He ran a business of agricultural tools and machinery and was also the president of the local diamond merchants' association.
Riding the 'Modi wave', Kundariya wrested the Rajkot Lok Sabha seat from sitting Congress MP Kunwarji Bavalia in the polls earlier this year.