# Gopinath Munde

Gopinathrao Pandurang Munde (12 December 1949 – 3 June 2014) was an Indian politician from the state of Maharashtra. often called a Lokneta(लोकनेता), meaning a people's leader. 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. 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.

## Early life and education

Gopinath 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.
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.
Munde was a swayamsevak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and was actively involved in RSS affairs of the Maharashtra state. He was also the leader of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

## Political career
### Work against underworld

During 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

Munde 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.

### Lok Sabha

Munde 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). 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. Days after assuming office, Munde died in a car accident.

## Personal life

Gopinath 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.

## Death

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. The accident took place between Safdarjung Road and Prithviraj Road, New Delhi 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.
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.
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.
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. Followed after this claim a statement was issued by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, saying Munde's death was caused by neck injury when in the post mortem report it was mentioned that he died because of liver rupture.