Lucknow, Nov 9 (IANS): A physician by profession, Mahesh Sharma is credited with working relentlessly in bringing the medical fraternity close to the BJP in recent years.

Sharma, initially known for his proximity to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, now is in the "good books" of party president Amit Shah as well, party insiders say.

He owns a multi-speciality hospital chain in Noida, now also his parliamentary constituency and has been working for the BJP for the past few years.

Suave and hard working, he is also known for his networking skills and the financial muscle. He successfully broke the caste matrix in Gautam Budh Nagar (Noida) and won the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. His links with the RSS, with which he was connected very early in life and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), is also said to be an added asset.

Vijay Bahadur Pathak, BJP state spokesman, told IANS: "The best thing is that despite busy engagements professionally, he has always found time to fulfil his duties towards the BJP and that was commendable. Everyone knows that as head of the Kailash group of hospitals how busy Sharmaji has been, but his commitment for the party is simply inspiring."

Sharma had earlier unsuccessfully contested the 2009 Lok Sabha polls and was a legislator from Noida when he was elected to the Lok Sabha in May this year.

A very "religious and god-fearing person", Dr. Mahesh Sharma is also said to be extremely popular in the club circuit and has been associated with the Lions Club, Rotary Club as well as the Indian Medical Association.