Gopichand Padalkar

Gopichand Padalkar
Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 November 2024
Preceded by	Vikramsinh Balasaheb Sawant
Constituency	Jat
Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council[1]
In office 14 May 2020 – 23 November 2024
Constituency	Elected by MLAs
Personal details
Born	Gopichand Kundalik Padalkar 1 October 1982 Pimpri, Atpadi, Sangli, Maharashtra
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse	Unmarried
Parent(s)	Kundalik Baba Padalkar (father), Hirabai Kundalik Padalkar(mother)

Gopichand Kundalik Padalkar (born 1 October 1982) is an Indian politician. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is a member of Maharashtra Legislative Council. He got elected to the Legislative Council by MLA's (unopposed) on 14 May 2020.[1] Previously he was with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, he started his political career with the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha.[2] He rejoined BJP before the 2019 Maharashtra Legislative Elections.[3] He is also a film maker and an actor.[4] He is BJP spokperson and a firebrand leader.

Early life

He was born to Kundlik and Hirabai Padalkar of Padalkarwadi, Sangli district. His father Kundlik Padalkar was a primary teacher.[4] Gopichand Padalkar belongs to Tribal Dhangar community from Maharashtra,[2] He is a Higher Secondary School graduate.[5]

Career

He started his political career with the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha of Mahadev Jankar.[2] He has unsuccessfully contested elections for District council once, Vidhan Sabha thrice and Lok Sabha once, before his election to the Maharashtra Legislative Council.[2]

In 2014 he joined Bhartiya Janata Party and contested 2014 assembly election from Atpadi-Khanapur constituency, subsequently he left the party and he joined Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi contesting Sangali Lok Sabha seat in the summer of 2019. As a losing candidate he gave a tough fight securing over three lakh votes,[2] after his loss he rejoined BJP in October 2019 and contested Vidhan Sabha elections from Baramati against Ajit Pawar.[2]

He got elected to the Legislative Council by MLA's (unopposed) on 14 May 2020, along with 9 others.[6][7]

Positions Held

• Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council 14 May 2020.
• Spokesperson of BJP,Maharashtra

References

1. "Finally, Uddhav Thackeray elected Maharashtra MLC". Outlook. 14 May 2020.
2. Marathi, TV9 (14 April 2021). "नेता, अभिनेता, 'एकच छंद गोपीचंद'; वाचा, कोण आहेत गोपीचंद पडळकर?". TV9 Marathi (in Marathi). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
3. "Maharashtra MLC election 2020: BJP candidate list out for May 21 polls, 4 contenders named". Financial Express.
4. "त्यांना बनायचे होते डॉक्‍टर पण बनले आमदार." eSakal - Marathi Newspaper (in Marathi). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
5. "GOPICHAND KUNDLIK PADALKAR : Bio, Political life, Family & Top stories". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
6. "Ajit Pawar wins in Baramati with more than 1.5 lakh margin". Business Insider. 24 October 2019.
7. The Indian Express (15 May 2020). "Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, eight others elected to Legislative Council". Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.