Mahadev Jankar has dedicated his life for the cause of the Dhangar community to which he belongs. Known as a very honest and down to earth social worker, he has chosen the politics as the means to achieve the goals he has set for the community. His party, the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, had been a part of the ruling Mahayuti for a long time. However, he was unhappy within the alliance and had announced that he is quitting the alliance. The BJP, however, left one seat for the party and now the results shall decide whether he is with the NDA or has finally quit.
Born on April 19, 1968, in the small village of Palsawade in the Satara district, Mahadev Jagannath Jankar’s journey to politics began with his education. He completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering with a gold medal from Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli. Despite receiving lucrative job offers, he chose to dedicate his life to social work and the upliftment of the underprivileged. His commitment to social service was so strong that he vowed never to marry or have a family of his own, focusing entirely on his mission to bring about social change.
In 2003, Jankar founded the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, aiming to represent the interests of the backward classes and marginalized communities. His political career saw him contesting various elections, including the Madha Lok Sabha seat in 2009 and the Baramati Lok Sabha seat in 2014. Although he did not win these elections, his efforts garnered significant support and respect from the people. He put up a great fight against Supriya Sule and lost by a thin margin.
Jankar’s dedication and hard work for the Dhangar community paid off when he was elected as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) of Maharashtra on January 23, 2015. His political journey continued to ascend as he was appointed as the Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries Department in the Maharashtra government on July 8, 2016. He served in this position until November 9, 2019.
Jankar has been a vocal advocate for rights of the Dhangar community, particularly their demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. The Dhangars, who account for up to 9% of Maharashtra’s population, currently receive 3.5% reservation under the Nomadic Tribe (NT) category. However, they have been fighting for ST status, which would grant them 7% reservation. This demand has led to significant protests and clashes over the years, with the community feeling marginalized and overlooked by successive governments.
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