Gopinath Munde, union rural development minister, who died this morning after a road accident in Delhi, was one of the BJP's top leaders in Maharashtra.
Munde was all set to spearhead the party's campaign in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state to wrest power from the Congress-NCP combine. A five-time MLA, Munde was seen as a front runner for the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister in the assembly polls later this year.
A known detractor of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Munde was credited with neutralising the Maratha politician's influence to such an extent that the Sena-BJP combine came to power in the 1995 Assembly polls and he became the Deputy Chief Minister.
Munde was always known as a mass leader. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said: "Gopinath Munde ji was a true mass leader. Hailing from backward sections of society, he rose to great heights and tirelessly served people."
Munde was always known as a mass leader. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said: "Gopinath Munde ji was a true mass leader. Hailing from backward sections of society, he rose to great heights and tirelessly served people."
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that Munde was always found in the midst of party workers.
Munde was the brother-in-law of slain BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. He hailed from a poor family in the backward Marathwada region and was brought into politics by the late BJP leader Vasantrao Bhagwat, who also groomed several others including Pramod Mahajan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the BJP leadership had handpicked Munde to lead the party's campaign in the state where assembly polls are due in four months.
Munde, who was the Deputy Leader of Opposition in 15th Lok Sabha, won the Lok Sabha polls this time despite Pawar making the Beed seat a prestige issue.
He also served as general secretary of the party at the national level and as Chairman of the Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers in the outgoing Lok Sabha.
Born on December 12, 1949, and hailing from Nathra village in Beed district, Munde was member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for five terms, 1980-1985, 1990-2009. He was born to Pandurang Munde and Limbabai Munde in a middle class Vanjari (caste) farmer's family.
He is survived by wife and three daughters - Pankaja, Pritam and Yashashri. Pankaja Palave represents the Parli Assembly seat in Beed district.
