predecessor religion birth_place party office primeminister term term_start birth_date spouse article_title name
k. rahman khan islam bhopal , bhopal state bharatiya janata party minister sabha member of rajya sabha of minority affairs deputy chairman of the rajya narendra modi 1985 2010 , 2012 -- 2014,2014 -- present -- 1986 , 1988 -- 2004 2004 -- 26 may 2014 13 april 1940 akbarali his death -rrb- a. heptulla -lrb- 1966 -- 2007 -rrb- -lrb- najma heptulla
 najma heptulla
najma heptulla

dr. najma akbarali heptulla -lrb- born 13 april 1940 -rrb- is an indian politician .
she is a former vice-president of the bharatiya janata party -lrb- bjp -rrb- , and a five time member of the rajya sabha , the upper house of the indian parliament , between 1986 and 2012 , and deputy chairman of the rajya sabha for sixteen years .
she was a member representing rajasthan from july 2004 to july 2010 .
she was nominated by the bjp for the rajya sabha in 2012 from madhya pradesh , and assumed her office on 24 april 2012 .
she is a grand-niece of maulana abul kalam azad , a prominent indian freedom fighter .
she is also a second cousin to actor aamir khan .
she contested the 13th vice-presidential election held in august 2007 but lost to hamid ansari by 233 votes .
she took oath as a cabinet minister in the narendra modi headed government on 26 may 2014 .
she is assisted by mukhtar abbas naqvi who joined the council of ministers as a minister of state on november , 2014 .
