He became a cabinet minister in the Third Vajpayee ministry from the 13th Lok Sabha, holding two portfolios, the department of Health and Family Welfare (Jan 2003-May 2004), and the department of shipping (August 2004). As of May 2006, he was appointed as the head of the BJP Culture and Arts Department.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qrDOpaWerKekv7W0jZympmejna61vtSgn5qmXai2r7TAZqWerF2svLPAx2ZtbXFoag%3D%3D