Harsh Vardhan, the man who brought Delhi BJP factions together

Vardhan managed to bring enthusiasm among grass root workers whose morale had taken a beating following party's image of a “divided house” when Goel openly staked his claim for the post.

Born on December 13, 1954, he had done his schooling from the Anglo-Sanskrit Victoria Jubilee Senior Secondary School in Daryaganj in central Delhi.

Later, he did his MBBS and specialisation in ENT from GSVM Medical College in Kanpur.

As a Health Minister, he had launched the polio eradication initiative in Delhi in October, 1994.

Taking cue from the success of the programme, the Union Health Ministry adopted the same as a national programme later.

He had also visited various states to persuade the health ministers to cooperate in making the country polio free.  
He is also credited with bringing the Delhi Prohibition of smoking and non smokers health protection bill.

Soon, many states followed Delhi's example, culminating in a Central legislation banning smoking in public places in 2002.