Gopinath Munde facts for kids

Gopinath Pandurang Munde (born December 12, 1949 – died June 3, 2014) was an important Indian politician from Maharashtra. People in Maharashtra often called him a Lokneta, which means a leader of the people. He was a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also served as a Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in Narendra Modi's government. He was known for his strong efforts to improve law and order in Mumbai when he was the Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999. He also helped create the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, a law to fight organized crime.

Early Life and Education

Gopinath Munde was born in Parali, Maharashtra, on December 12, 1949. His parents, Pandurang and Limbabai Munde, were farmers from a middle-class family.

He went to primary school in Nathra village, where classes were held under a tree because there was no school building. He was an average student. For secondary education, he went to the Zilla Parishad School in Parali. He enjoyed reading newspapers and books at the Arya Samaj Mandir.

After finishing high school, he studied Commerce at a college in Ambejogai. Even though his family was not involved in politics, he became interested in student movements in college. He was good at helping his group win elections, even if he didn't win one himself during those years. Later, he studied at the ILS College in Pune. He earned a B.Com. degree and also studied law.

Political Journey

Gopinath Munde was a member of Maharashtra's Legislative Assembly (MLA) for five terms. He served from 1980 to 1985 and again from 1990 to 2009, representing the Renapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency) area. He was also the leader of the opposition in the Assembly from 1992 to 1995. This meant he led the main party that was not in power.

He became the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999. In this role, he was in charge of important departments like Home Affairs, which deals with law and order.

Fighting Organized Crime

When Gopinath Munde was the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, he focused on tackling organized crime. After the 1993 Mumbai attacks, he took charge of the Home Ministry. He then started strong actions against criminal groups and their leaders. He played a key role in bringing in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act to help fight these groups more effectively.

Member of Parliament

Munde was elected to the Lok Sabha (India's lower house of Parliament) in 2009 and again in 2014. He represented the Beed area. In 2014, he won the Lok Sabha election from Beed by a large number of votes.

On May 26, 2014, he was appointed as the Minister of Rural Development in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. He took his oath as a cabinet minister. Sadly, he passed away in a road accident just a week later, on June 3, 2014. He served as a Cabinet minister for the shortest time in Indian history.

Early Political Steps

Munde became involved in politics after meeting Pramod Mahajan in college. He joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a student organization. He took part in protests against the state of emergency declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Because of this, he was held in Nashik central jail until the emergency ended.

In 1971, he helped with the election campaign for the Bharatiya Jana Sangh party in the Beed area. He also attended a training camp of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He quickly rose in the ranks, becoming in-charge of the student cell in Pune. When the Bharatiya Janata Party was formed, Munde became the President of its youth wing in Maharashtra, called the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.

Personal Life

Gopinath Munde's parents, Pandurangrao and Limbabai, worked hard to ensure he received an education. After his father passed away in 1969, his brothers supported his studies. He was the third child in his family.

His wife, Pradnya, is a graduate and a homemaker. They met during his college days. Pradnya's elder brother, Pramod Mahajan, was also a well-known politician.

Munde had three daughters: Pankaja Munde, Pritam Munde, and Yashashri. His eldest daughter, Pankaja Munde, served as a minister in the Maharashtra Government. His second daughter, Pritam Munde, became a member of Lok Sabha in 2014, taking over her father's seat after his death. His nephew, Dhananjay Munde, is also a politician and a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government.

Passing Away

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage to his colleague Munde.

Gopinath Munde died in a road accident on the morning of June 3, 2014. He was on his way to the Delhi airport for his first official meeting as a minister. The accident happened in New Delhi when his car was hit by another vehicle. He was quickly taken to the AIIMS hospital. However, he suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be saved. He was declared dead at 7:20 a.m.

According to initial reports, he suffered injuries, including cervical fractures and a ruptured liver, which led to the cardiac arrest. His funeral was held on June 4, 2014, in his hometown of Parali Vaijenath, near Beed. His daughter, Pankaja Munde, performed the last rites.