Fadnavis Celebrates Gopinath Munde’s Vision of OBC Unity
Solar project, railway plans boost Marathwada
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde, lauding his inclusive social engineering that united Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and diverse communities without fostering division.
Speaking at an event in Latur, where he unveiled a 14-foot statue of Munde and virtually launched a 5 MW solar power project, Fadnavis urged politicians to emulate Munde’s vision of prosperity for all. “He brought OBCs together while ensuring no community was sidelined,” Fadnavis said, highlighting Munde’s support for renaming Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University.
Munde, a towering figure from Beed in Marathwada, served as Maharashtra BJP president at 35, opposition leader, and home minister, earning a reputation for fearless leadership. Fadnavis recalled Munde’s tenure as a strict home minister, credited with enacting the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to curb crime. “His speeches kept ruling parties on edge, unlike today’s unchecked statements,” he noted, referencing Munde’s Sangharsh Yatra that exposed scams and challenged the Congress-led government’s Enron project.
Fadnavis credited Munde’s collaboration with Bal Thackeray for forging the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, which rose to power in 1995. “He never compromised on principles, a lesson I follow,” Fadnavis said, adding that Munde’s dream of a railway line to Beed is nearing reality, with a coach factory in Latur set to generate 10,000 jobs by 2026. He also announced plans to divert 54 TMC of seawater to drought-prone Marathwada, fulfilling Munde’s vision of a drought-free region.
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Munde’s daughter, Pankaja Munde, a state minister, and cousin Dhananjay Munde, an NCP MLA, joined the event, emphasizing their commitment to his legacy. Pankaja, declared Munde’s political heir, said, “He taught me to rise above grudges,” while Dhananjay noted their shared struggle for the common man, expressing pride in Fadnavis’s third term as CM. Guardian Minister Shivendraraje Bhosale pledged funds for rural development in Beed’s Parli constituency, responding to Dhananjay’s appeal.
Munde, who died in a 2014 car accident as Union Rural Development Minister, was a champion of farmers and OBCs, securing a farm loan waiver through statewide protests. Social media on X reflected admiration for his grassroots connect, with users like @lokmat praising his role in transforming BJP into a mass-based party. However, some criticized the slow pace of Marathwada’s water grid project, citing bureaucratic delays.
Fadnavis’s initiatives, including solar-powered irrigation and railway connectivity, aim to realize Munde’s dreams, strengthening BJP’s OBC outreach in Marathwada ahead of local elections.
