Gopinath Munde

Gopinath Munde Biography

Gopinath Munde was a prominent Indian politician associated with Bharatiya Janata party, and a parliamentarian too. He got elected to Lok Sabha in 2014 general elections representing BJP, and served as a minister in the central government led by Narendra Modi. He served the position of Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water and Sanitation soon after he joined the cabinet. He represented Beed constituency from Maharashtra. Unfortunately he died in a road accident in New Delhi a week later he sworn in as a minister, thus becoming the shortest served Cabinet minister ever in Indian history. He served on chair during 26 May 2014 – 3 June 2014, and he was 64 years old when he passed away.

Gopinath Munde was a prominent figure in state politics as well. He served as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra during 14 March 1995 – 11 October 1999, and has served as an MLA in state legislature multiple times. Munde got involved in politics when he met Pramod Mahajan, a friend and colleague. He joined politics in the early 1970s, and was associated with the campaign of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh candidate in the Lok Sabha election in the Beed constituency in 1971. He actively worked with RSS in the 1970s. He became President of the Maharashtra unit of the BJP's youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha after the split of Bharatiya Jana Sangh in the early 1980s. He became BJP’s Maharashtra state president in 1986. He was then the youngest state president of any political party in India.

Gopinath Munde was born in Nathra village of Parali, now a part of Maharashtra on 12 December 1949. He married Pradnya and the couple had two daughters. Both are involved with politics, associated with Bharatiya Janata Party. His daughter Pritam Munde who currently serves as parliamentarian is a niece of late Pramod Mahajan, and a cousin to Rahul Mahajan and Poonam Mahajan. Noted politician Dhananjay Munde is a cousin of the sisters. His second daughter Pankaja Munde currently serves as Minister of Rural Development, Women and Child Welfare in Maharashtra.

Published: October 04, 2018

Updated: October 04, 2018