Gopinathrao Pandurang Munde (12 December 1949 – 3 June 2014) was an Indian politician from the state of Maharashtra, often called a Lokneta, meaning a people's leader.[1] He was a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and served as the Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in Narendra Modi's cabinet until his death.[2] Munde was well-known for his efforts in curbing the underworld in Mumbai during his tenure as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, overseeing the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1995 to 1999. He was a key figure in introducing the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), later ratified by the Supreme Court of India.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Gopinath Munde | |
|---|---|
 Munde in 2011 | |
| Union Minister of Rural Development | |
| In office 26 May 2014 – 3 June 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Jairam Ramesh |
| Succeeded by | Nitin Jairam Gadkari |
| Union Minister of Panchayati Raj | |
| In office 26 May 2014 – 3 June 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Kishore Chandra Deo |
| Succeeded by | Nitin Gadkari |
| Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation | |
| In office 26 May 2014 – 3 June 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki |
| Succeeded by | Nitin Gadkari |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 16 May 2009 – 3 June 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Jaisingrao Gaikwad Patil |
| Succeeded by | Pritam Munde |
| Constituency | Beed, Maharashtra |
| Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra | |
| In office 14 March 1995 – 18 October 1999 | |
| Department | Home Affairs |
| Chief Minister | Manohar Joshi Narayan Rane |
| Preceded by | Ramrao Adik |
| Succeeded by | Chhagan Bhujbal |
| Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 12 December 1991 – 14 March 1995 | |
| Chief Minister | Sudhakarrao Naik Sharad Pawar |
| Preceded by | Manohar Joshi |
| Succeeded by | Madhukarrao Pichad |
| Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1990–2009 | |
| Preceded by | Panditrao Daund |
| Succeeded by | constituency dissolved |
| Constituency | Renapur |
| In office 1980–1985 | |
| Preceded by | Raghunath Munde |
| Succeeded by | Panditrao Daund |
| Constituency | Renapur |
| Deputy Leader of the House, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 26 May 2014 – 3 June 2014 | |
| Speaker | Kamal Nath (pro-tem) |
| Leader of the House | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Mallikarjun Kharge |
| Succeeded by | Sushma Swaraj |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha | |
| In office 22 December 2009 – 20 May 2014 | |
| Speaker | Meira Kumar |
| Leader of the Opposition | Sushma Swaraj |
| Preceded by | Sushma Swaraj |
| Succeeded by | Gaurav Gogoi (2024) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gopinathrao Pandurang Munde 12 December 1949 Parli, Hyderabad State, India (present-day Maharashtra) |
| Died | 3 June 2014 (aged 64) New Delhi, Delhi, India |
| Cause of death | Traffic collision |
| Political party | Bhartiya Janata Party |
| Spouse |
Pradnya Mahajan (m. 1978) |
| Relations | Pramod Mahajan (brother-in-law) |
| Children | Pankaja Munde (daughter) Pritam Munde (daughter) Yashashri Munde (daughter) |
| Residence | Yashshree, Vallabh Nagar, Parli |
| Website | www |
| Source: [2] | |
Early life and education
editGopinath Pandurang Munde was born on 12 December 1949 in Parali, Maharashtra, into a middle-class Vanjari farmer's family. His parents were Pandurang and Limbabai Munde.[10]
Munde's primary education took place in his village 'Nathra' in Beed District, where classes were held under the shade of a tree due to the absence of a school building. He continued his secondary education at the Zilla Parishad School in the tehsil town of Parli. He frequently visited the Arya Samaj Mandir to read newspapers and books and listen to discourses by wise men.
Munde pursued a Bachelor of Commerce degree at a college in Ambejogai. Despite his lack of a political background, he emerged as a key figure in the student movement during his college years. His influence was instrumental in the success of his peers in elections.He became a kingmaker of sorts, ensuring victory of members of his group though he did not win an election even once during those four memorable years.
Political career
editWork against underworld
editDuring his tenure as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Gopinath Munde played a pivotal role in combating gang wars and the underworld. After the 1993 Mumbai attacks, Munde assumed responsibility for the Home Ministry in Maharashtra and launched an aggressive campaign against underworld dons and their networks. His efforts were instrumental in curbing the influence of organized crime in Mumbai during that period, earning him widespread recognition and respect for his decisive actions against criminal elements.
Vidhan Sabha
editMunde first contested the Vidhan Sabha elections in 1978 from the Parli constituency but was unsuccessful. However, in 1980, he was elected to the Vidhan Sabha from Renapur as a BJP candidate, marking the beginning of his legislative career. He retained his seat in subsequent elections in 1995, 1999, and 2004. From 12 December 1991 to 14 March 1995, Munde served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha, where he was known for his strong and articulate advocacy for the opposition’s stance on various issues. His leadership qualities were further recognized when he was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on 14 March 1995 under the Manohar Joshi-led government. [11]
Lok Sabha
editMunde transitioned to national politics and was elected as a member of the 15th Lok Sabha (2009–2014), representing the Beed constituency. To secure his position, he defeated the NCP candidate, Rameshrao Baburao Kokate (Adaskar).[12][13] In the 2014 general elections, Munde once again won the Beed constituency, this time by a significant margin of 140,000 votes. Following this victory, on 26 May 2014, he was appointed Minister of Rural Development in the cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[14] Days after assuming office, Munde died in a fatal car accident.
Personal life
editGopinath Munde's parents, Pandurangrao and Limbabai, faced numerous challenges but were determined to provide him with a good education. After his father's death in 1969, his brothers took on the responsibility of supporting his education. Munde was the third child in his family.
During his college days at Ambajogai, Munde met Pradnya, who would later become his wife. Pradnya, a graduate, chose to be a homemaker. Her elder brother, Pramod Mahajan, was a prominent political figure and served as Union Cabinet Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
Munde and Pradnya had three daughters: Pankaja, Pritam, and Yashashree. Pankaja Munde, the eldest, served as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra Government from 2014 to 2019. Pritam Munde, their second daughter, became a member of the Lok Sabha in 2014, winning the seat left vacant by her father's sudden and tragic death.[10]
Death
edit
Munde was in a road accident in the early morning of 3 June 2014, while on his way to Delhi Airport. He was going for his first official meeting after assuming official posts.[15] The accident took place between Safdarjung Road and Prithviraj Road, New Delhi[16] where his car was hit by a speeding cab. He was rushed to AIIMS Delhi but later went into cardiac arrest. He was administered CPR but could not be resuscitated and was declared dead at 7:20 a.m.[17]
Munde suffered cervical fractures due to which supply of oxygen to his brain was cut off. Further, his liver was ruptured due to impact of accident, leading to cardiac arrest.[18][19]
His funeral was held at 2pm on 4 June 2014 at his native place Parali Vaijenath near Beed. Pankaja, Munde's eldest daughter performed the last rites to her father.[20]
The accident as a reason behind Munde's death was questioned and raised speculations in media when on 21 January 2019, a US-based hacker claimed that Munde was murdered.[21] Followed after this claim a statement was issued by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, saying Munde's death was caused by neck injury[22] when in the post mortem report it was mentioned that he died because of liver rupture.[23]
References
edit- ^ "Maharashtra time".
- ^ "Who's who in Narendra Modi's cabinet". The Economic Times. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Vijay Salaskar and Praful Bhosale, the two assistant police inspectors, and their teams had the mandate of state Home Minister and Deputy CM Munde to crack down on the city's underworld". India today. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021.
- ^ "ABP LIVE: Gopinath Munde's drive against underworld - YouTube". YouTube. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Ransom city - States News - Issue Date: Nov 30, 1998". 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "ASIANOW - Asiaweek". 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ . 21 June 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210621174749/https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/16362/1/the_maharashtra_control_of_organised_crime_act%2C_1999.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Organised crimes not restricted to particular state: Supreme Court | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. PTI. 22 October 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ . 10 December 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211210195442/https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2019/26542/26542_2019_43_1503_31805_Judgement_03-Dec-2021.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ a b Sarkar, Sonia (3 July 2011). "The non-Brahmins in the party feel they are being ignored'". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
- ^ "The Biography of BJP Leader Gopinath Munde".
- ^ "Childhood". gopinathmunde.com. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ "Fifteenth Lok SabhaGopinath Pandurang profile". delhi: National Informatics Centre. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ "Gopinath Munde takes oath as Cainet Minister". The Economic Times. Economics Times. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ "Gopinath Munde passes away following road accident in Delhi". FirstPost. 3 June 2014.
- ^ "Exact sequence of Gopinath Munde's accident". ABP Live. 3 June 2014.
- ^ "Union Minister Gopinath Munde dies in a road accident in Delhi". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
- ^ "Union Minister Gopinath Munde dies after car crash; Modi says his demise leaves a void". Indian Express. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Gopinath Munde died of cardiac arrest, says Post Mortem Report". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
- ^ [1] Lighting her father's pyre: How Pankaja Munde made history, Firstpost. India
- ^ "EVM hacking: US hacker claims Gopinath Munde was murdered, 2014 polls were rigged; EC mulling legal action | India News". timesnownews.com. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Congress organised EVM hackathon in London, claims Ravi Shankar Prasad". Oneindia. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Gopinath Munde's liver ruptured, cardiac arrest due to shock: Post-mortem report". The Indian Express. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Bhujbal-Munde-pitch-for-OBC-census/article16365507.ece