Gopinath Pandurang Munde

Gopinath Pandurang Munde Biography

Gopinath Pandurang Munde is an Indian politician and senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who has served as the MLA of Maharashtra 5 terms since 1980. He served as the leader of opposition for one term during 1990’s and the designation of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra the following term as well. He was introduced to politics by Pramod Mahajan, (Information and Broadcasting Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government) a friend and colleague while at college. Later Gopinath married Mahajan’s sister, Pradnya. The couple has 3 daughters of whom Pankaja is an MLA.

He was born into a farmer's family of Nathra village, Tehsil Parali, Maharashtra on December 12, 1949. His father Pandurangrao and mother Limbabai had to face a lot of hardships to bring up their kids. Gopinath lost his father in 1969 and later he was provided education by his brothers. The hardships faced during childhood and teens prompted Gopinath to do something for the suffering people. Poverty and drought were the prime problems faced by his villagers. He studied at government primary school, in Nathra village where studies were conducted beneath tree. There was no school building and he had to take 12 km walk to attend exams. He completed matriculation from Zilla Parishad School.

Later he completed graduation from Ambejogai. It was during this time when he was introduced to politics. He got involved with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad while at college. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's training camp was the turning point of his political career. He became the Sambhajinagar Mandal Karyavah and a member of the executive committee of RSS, Pune. When Janatha party split to form BJP, he became the youth president of Maharashtra wing and thus began his political career in association with BJP.

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Updated: June 07, 2014