Pankaja Munde

2021-11-10T02:32:42Z

2409:4042:4E13:5994:24C7:AF2C:5014:AADC:

{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Pankaja Munde
| image = Pankja Gopinath Munde.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|07|26}}
| birth_place = [[Parli, Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| residence = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office1 = National secretary, [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| term_start1 = 26 September 2020
| president1 = [[J. P. Nadda]]
| office3 = [[Cabinet Minister (India)|Cabinet Minister]], [[Government of Maharashtra]]
| 1namedata3 = *[[Ministry of Rural Development Government of Maharashtra|Rural Development]]
*[[Ministry of Woman and Child Development Government of Maharashtra|Woman and Child Development.]]
| 1blankname3 = Minister of
| 2blankname3 = [[Chief Minister of Maharashtra|Chief Minister]]
| 2namedata3 = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| governor =
|term_start3 = 31 October 2014 |term_end3 = 24 October 2019
|successor3 = *[[Hasan Mushrif]]
*[[Yashomati Chandrakant Thakur]]
| office2 = [[Member of Legislative Assembly|MLA]], [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency2 = [[Parli (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Parli]]
| term_start2 = 2009
|term_end2 = 2019
| predecessor2 = office established
|successor2 = [[Dhananjay Munde]]
|profession = Politician
| relations = [[Pritam Munde]] (Sister)<br />Yashashri (Sister)
| alma_mater =
| footnotes =
| office4 =
| term_start4 =
| website = {{url|www.pankajagopinathmunde.com}}
| signature =
|term_end4 = }}

'''Pankaja Munde''' (born 26 July 1979), also known by her married name '''Pankaja Munde-Palwe''',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/Pankaja-Munde-Palwe/news/2/2?from=mdr|title = Pankaja Munde Palwe News and Updates from the Economic Times - Page 2}}</ref> is an Indian politician from the state of [[Maharashtra]] and National Secretary of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lokmat.com/politics/vinod-tawde-pankaja-munde-finally-got-place-honor-bjp-give-place-national-executive-council-a301/}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Pankaja Munde was born on 26 July 1979 to [[Gopinath Munde]] and Pradnya Munde. She has two younger siblings, [[Pritam Munde]] and Yashashari. She completed her graduation and also holds an MBA. She is a niece of [[Pramod Mahajan]], and a cousin to [[Rahul Mahajan]] and [[Poonam Mahajan]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newsd.in/if-bjp-comes-to-power-again-we-will-change-constitution-pankaja-munde/|title=If BJP comes to power again, we will change constitution: Pankaja Munde|work=Newsd www.newsd.in|access-date=2019-04-16|language=en}}</ref>

==Political career==

Her father [[Gopinath Munde]] was Deputy CM of Maharashtra in the 1990s. Pankaja Munde was the [[Ministry of Rural Development (India)|Minister of Rural]] and [[Ministry of Women and Child Development|Women, Child Development]] in the [[Devendra Fadnavis]] cabinet. She is known as a 'businesswoman' in the Sugar Factory sector & Bank sector. She received 'The Powerful Politician' award in the year 2017 and one of the mass leader and firebrand leaders from Maharashtra state.

Pankaja Munde served as the State President of BJP's youth wing, the [[Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha]] (BJYM), in 2012. She was elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra]] from [[Parli (Maharashtra Assembly constituency)|Parli constituency]] in 2009. She took oath as Maharashtra Cabinet Minister on 31 October 2014. She was allotted Ministry of Rural Development, Women & Child welfare.

Before [[2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2014 Maharashtra assembly election]], Maharashtra BJP announced a two-week "Punha Sangharsh Yatra" which was planned & led by Pankaja Munde along the lines of a Sangharsh Yatra undertaken by her father in 1995 after which the [[Shiv Sena]]-[[BJP]] came to power in the state. The 14 days long yatra started on 27 August 2014. Politicians like [[Amit Shah]], [[Smriti Irani]], [[Rajiv Pratap Rudy]] attended this Yatra. Pankaja Munde covered 79 assembly constituencies by doing 600 rallies and 3500  km of road journey.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bjp-keen-to-field-mundes-kin-from-his-turf/article6329190.ece |title=BJP keen to field Munde's kin from his turf |work=The Hindu |date=2014-08-18 |access-date=2019-06-01|last1=Kakodkar |first1=Priyanka }}</ref> ‘Punha Sangharsh Yatra’ got an overwhelming response and supporters of Pankaja Munde wanted her as [[Chief Minister of Maharashtra]] but she never aspired or planned to pitch herself as chief minister.

She said she just wanted to play a key role in ensuring the BJP comes to power. During her tour and during the poll campaigns, people{{who|date=June 2019}} said she should take her father's place. People cheered for her at [[Amit Shah]]'s rally too. But she always said that she likes to be the kingmaker, not the king. Purpose of her Yatra was to ensure the state gets a BJP government and a CM.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/want-to-be-the-king-maker-not-the-king-in-these-polls-pankaja-munde/story-IFGQhfESAyP7FLX8sO5vtJ.html|title=Want to be the kingmaker, not the king in these polls: Pankaja Munde|date=8 October 2014|website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

She is also known for arranging a memorial of her father and senior BJP leader, [[Gopinath Munde]], at [[Parli, Maharashtra|Parli]] in [[Beed district]]. The 20-feet tall statue of him, called Gopinath Gad is also known as a 'tomb of father by daughter.'<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/gopinath-gad-to-be-set-up-in-memory-of-late-gopinath-munde/articleshow/45494403.cms?from=mdr|title = 'Gopinath Gad' to be set up in memory of late Gopinath Munde|newspaper = The Economic Times}}</ref> It was commenced after his death in a 2014 road accident and is sited on the premises of the Vaidyanath Cooperative Sugar Mill. Social activities, drought relief, skill development, education scholarship & many such activities have been started to conducting through 'Gopinath Gad' Prathisthan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-chief-amit-shah-to-inaugurate-gopinath-munde-memorial-tomorrow-1253884|title=BJP Chief Amit Shah To Inaugurate Gopinath Munde Memorial Tomorrow|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

In June 2015, the opposition party [[Indian National Congress]] accused her of being involved in the chikki scam, alleging that she had flouted norms by clearing the purchase without floating tenders. Munde rejected the accusations of corruption, arguing that a policy for an online tendering system was not in place when she commissioned the purchase.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/maharashtra-minister-pankaja-munde-accused-of-rs-200-crore-scam-by-opposition-774826|title=Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde Rejects Congress Charge of 200-Crore Scam|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/rs-206-crore-chikki-scam-hits-maharashtra-government-bjp-mp-pankaja-munde-under-scanner-1011152.html|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News18}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/munde-row-fadnavis-meets-pm-modi-says-no-irregularities-prima-facie-2312826.html|title=Munde row: Fadnavis meets PM Modi, says no irregularities 'prima facie'|website=Firstpost|date=25 June 2015}}</ref>

After a few days, [[Anti Corruption Bureau, Maharashtra]] gave a clean chit to Pankaja Munde in connection with the 206 crore Chikki scandal alleged by the opposition and said the tender was given in compliance with the court's rules, with no facts in this regard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/Mumbai-news/chikki-scam-pankaja-Munde-gets-clean-chit-from-Maharashtra-acb/story-hpSlJd6caxbvB3EPaP9oRM.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921173448/https://m.hindustantimes.com/Mumbai-news/chikki-scam-pankaja-Munde-gets-clean-chit-from-Maharashtra-acb/story-hpSlJd6caxbvB3EPaP9oRM.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-09-21|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|title=Pankaja Munde given clean chit by Maharastra ACB in chikki sca}}</ref>

Honouring the late party leader Gopinath Munde, Government of India unveiled a special postal cover on his Seventh death anniversary. The cover of this post inaugurated in the presence of BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad virtually. it was Mass leader Gopinath Munde who laid the foundation for taking the party to Dalits and deprived classes of the state which is why the BJP is the biggest party in Maharashtra today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thefederal.com/from-the-wires/maha-nadda-unveils-special-postal-cover-honouring-gopinath-munde/|title = Maha: Nadda unveils special postal cover honouring Gopinath Munde|date = 3 June 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Pankaja married to Amit Palwe. The couple has one son name as Aryaman. She has authored a [[photobiography]] of her father, titled ''Lokneta Gopinath Munde''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=5042145073247202839&SectionId=4924098573178130559&SectionName=Latest%20News&NewsDate=20110307&NewsTitle=Photobiography%20released%20on%20ex-dy%20CM%E2%80%99s%20life%20story|title=Sakaal Times}}</ref>

==Dasara (Dussehra) Melava==

The tradition of Dasara ([[Dussehra]]) Melava is of devotion and strength, and this tradition was started by [[Gopinath Munde]] twenty-five years ago at Bhagwangad, which is the cemetery and workplace of the great Saint Bhagwan Baba.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gopinath Munde start the Dasera Melava at Bhagwangad|date=18 January 2014|url=https://www.loksatta.com/vruthanta-news/hitting-on-bhagwangad-political-leader-gopinath-munde-350006|publisher=loksatta}}</ref>
For this Melava, [[Gopinath Munde]] addressed the Bahujan community to set new directions and conditions, i.e., 'Shimoullanghan'; To start something new.

After his death, the place was taken over by his successor daughter Pankaja Munde. In 2016, Pankaja Munde decided to take Dasara Melava at Savargaon, the birthplace of great Saint Bhagwan Baba, due to a dispute with the Mahant of the Gad.<ref>{{cite web|title=pankaja Munde moves Bhagwangad to Savargaon |url=http://www.saamana.com/dassera-malava-of-pankaja-munde-in-savargaon/|publisher=Saamana}}</ref>
The Dasara Melava which took place in a large crowd and enthusiasm; Pankaja Munde has been successful in making the same melava in Savargaon.

Bhagwangad is a place of power of the Bahujan and [[Other Backward Class]] OBC community. So far, as many people have attended the rally and addressed the gathering; include veterans like [[Sambhaji Raje]] , [[Amit Shah]], [[Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar]] , [[Mahadev Jankar]], [[Eknath Khadse]], [[Ram Shinde]] many other monk-saint.<ref>{{cite web|title=Amit Shah addressing Dasara rally in Bhagwangad|date=3 October 2014|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141003/nation-current-affairs/article/bjp-president-amit-shah-pledges-fight-poor-obcs-under-pankajas|publisher=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=many veterans join Dasera melava rally|date=18 January 2014|url=https://www.loksatta.com/vruthanta-news/hitting-on-bhagwangad-political-leader-gopinath-munde-350006|publisher=loksatta}}</ref>

Every year, lakh of devotees and supporters participate in this rally with great enthusiasm.<ref>{{cite web|title= millions of chairing in rally|url=https://www.thodkyaat.com/imp-points-of-pankaja-munde-speech-in-savargaon-300917/|publisher=Loksatta}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140606075816/http://www.pankajagopinathmunde.com/ Official Website]

{{s-start}}

{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jayant Patil]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Cabinet Minister for Rural Development, Maharashtra State|years=December 2014–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bef|before=}}
{{s-ttl|title=Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development,<br /> Maharashtra State|years=December 2014–present}}
{{s-inc}}

{{s-bef|before=}}
{{s-ttl|title=Maharashtra State Guardian Minister for [[Latur district]]|years=December 2014–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bef|before=}}
{{s-ttl|title=Maharashtra State Guardian Minister for [[Beed district]]|years=December 2014–present}}
{{s-inc}}

{{s-end}}
{{Bharatiya Janata Party}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Munde, Pankaja}}
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2009–2014]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:People from Beed district]]
[[Category:Women in Maharashtra politics]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2014–2019]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:People from Marathwada]]
[[Category:Marathi politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Women state cabinet ministers of India]]
[[Category:1979 births]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Pankaja Munde