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Pankaja Munde (born 26 July 1979) is an Indian politician and elder daughter of the late Gopinath Munde, a former cabinet minister in India.[1] She is the National Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and also serves as an MLC in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.[2] Popularly, she is known as 'Loknetya Pankaja Tai'. She is currently serving as Cabinet Minister for Animal Husbandary, Environment and Climate change in the Third Fadnavis ministry. [3]
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Pankaja Munde was born to Gopinath Munde and Pradnya Munde on 26 July 1979 as their eldest child. She has two younger sisters, Pritam Munde and Yashashari. She completed her graduation and also holds an MBA.[4]
She is a niece of Pramod Mahajan, and a cousin to Rahul Mahajan and Poonam Mahajan. NCP leader Dhananjay Munde is also her cousin.
Gopinath Munde, Pankaja Munde's father, served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the 1990s. Pankaja Munde herself has held several significant positions in Maharashtra politics. She was the Minister of Rural Development, Women, and Child Welfare in the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet. Besides her political career, she is recognized as a sugar factory and banking businesswoman. In 2017, she received ‘The Powerful Politician’ award and was known as Maharashtra’s prominent and dynamic leader.
In 2012, Pankaja Munde served as the State President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP’s youth wing. She was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Parli constituency in 2009. She took oath as a Maharashtra Cabinet Minister on 31 October 2014, being allotted the Ministry of Rural Development, Women, and Child Welfare.
Before the 2014 Maharashtra assembly election, the Maharashtra BJP announced a two-week "Punha Sangharsh Yatra," led by Pankaja Munde, similar to a Sangharsh Yatra undertaken by her father in 1995, which had led to the Shiv Sena-BJP coming to power in the state. The 14-day Yatra started on 27 August 2014, covering 79 assembly constituencies with 600 rallies and a 3500 km road journey.[5] ‘Punha Sangharsh Yatra’ got an overwhelming response. It received overwhelming support, with politicians like Amit Shah, Smriti Irani, and Rajiv Pratap Rudy attending. Despite public chants for her to become Chief Minister, Pankaja Munde expressed her desire to be a key player in bringing the BJP to power rather than aiming for the top position herself.[6] [7]
Pankaja Munde also established a memorial for her father, Gopinath Munde, in Parli, Beed district. The 20-foot-tall statue, called Gopinath Gad, is located on the premises of the Vaidyanath Cooperative Sugar Mill and was inaugurated by Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis. Through the Gopinath Gad Prathisthan, several social activities, such as drought relief, skill development, and education scholarships, have been initiated.'[8] [9]
On Gopinath Munde's seventh death anniversary, the Government of India unveiled a unique postal cover in his honor. The cover was inaugurated virtually by BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, highlighting Gopinath Munde's efforts to bring the party closer to Dalits and deprived classes in Maharashtra.[10]
In 2022, Pankaja Munde led the BJP to victory in the Nagar Panchayat elections in the Beed district. The BJP emerged as the top party by winning all four Nagar Panchayats, showcasing her effective leadership and the public's support for her.[11]
In September 2023, she respectfully embarked on the 'Shivshakti Parikrama,' a sacred journey where she visited 11 revered temples of Jyotirlinga and Shaktipeethas located in 10 districts of the state. Throughout her pilgrimage, she was warmly welcomed and received enthusiastic support from the people.[12]
Pankaja Munde contested the Beed constituency as the BJP candidate in the 2024 General Elections but lost to Bajrang Manohar Sonwane of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). On 12 July 2024, Pankaja Munde emerged victorious in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.[13] She also holds the position of a national secretary (BJP) and incharge of the Madhya Pradesh. [14]
November, 2024 During Maharashtra Vidhansabha Election, Bhupender Yadav Prabhari of BJP Maharashtra worked hard to win support from the OBC community in 80 key seats. He traveled to different areas and joined meetings to connect with people. In Marathwada & OBC belt it was suggested that Pankaja Munde’s campaigning could help win votes. Yadav gave her a helicopter in campaign period,so she could visit many places, with up to 16-17 stops in a single day. Even when the finance department raised budget concerns, Yadav fully supported this plan.Pankaja Munde conducted the fourth-highest number of rallies during the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Devendra Fadnavis.[15]
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In June 2015, the opposition party, Indian National Congress, accused Pankaja Munde of being involved in the chikki scam, alleging that she had flouted norms by clearing the purchase without floating tenders.[16][17] Munde rejected the accusations of corruption, arguing that a policy for an online tendering system was not in place when she commissioned the purchase.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also defended her, stating that the norm of inviting e-tenders was introduced by his government in April, two months after Munde cleared the contracts.[18] Munde challenged the opposition, saying, "If proven guilty, I shall not just resign, but quit politics permanently if I’ve taken even a rupee from anyone." She is the daughter of the late BJP veteran Gopinath Munde.[19]
After a few days, the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Maharashtra gave a clean chit to Pankaja Munde in connection with the 206 crore Chikki scandal alleged by the opposition. It said the tender was given in compliance with the court's rules, with no facts in this regard.[20]
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Pankaja is married to Amit Palwe. The couple has one son whose name is Aryaman. She has authored a photobiography of her father, titled Lokneta Gopinath Munde.[21]
The tradition of Dasara (Dussehra) Melava is a testament to the unity and strength of the Bahujan and OBC community. It was initiated by Gopinath Munde twenty-five years ago at Bhagwangad, the cemetery and workplace of the great Saint Bhagwan Baba.[22] During this Melava, Gopinath Munde addressed the community, setting new directions and conditions, known as 'Shimoullanghan,' symbolizing the start of something new.
After his death, his successor, daughter Pankaja Munde, took over the tradition. In 2016, due to a dispute with the Mahant of the Gad, Pankaja Munde decided to hold the Dasara Melava at Savargaon, the birthplace of Saint Bhagwan Baba. [23] The Dasara Melava, held with large crowds and great enthusiasm, was successfully continued by Pankaja Munde in Savargaon.
Bhagwangad is a place of power for the Bahujan and Other Backward Class (OBC) community. Over the years, many notable figures have attended the rally and addressed the gathering, including veterans like Sambhaji Raje, Amit Shah, Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar, Mahadev Jankar, Eknath Khadse and many other monks and saints.[24][25]
Every year, lakhs of devotees and supporters enthusiastically participate in this rally.[26]
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