BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, who had always been known as the ‘fire fighter’ since his days as organization secretary in the ABVP, has successfully mediated and persuaded several rebels to withdraw their nominations against the BJP or Mahayuti nominees.
Tawde’s organizational as well as enterprising abilities have received praise even from his political opponents. The then DCM Ajit Pawar’s welcome speech in the legislature when Tawde became the leader of opposition in 2011 was full of praise for all such qualities of Tawde.
Born on July 20, 1963, Tawde completed his secondary education at St. Anthonia High School, Santacruz, and his higher secondary education at Parle College, Vile Parle in Mumbai and then pursued a vocational course from Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth in Pune while he was an ABVP activist. His impeccable organizational skills saw him quickly rise through the ranks to become the Secretary-General of ABVP in 1988 and later the National Secretary in 1993.
In 1995, Tawde was appointed as the General Secretary of the BJP’s Maharashtra unit, a position he held until 1999 and again from 2002 to 2011. In 1999, he became the President of the Mumbai City Unit of the BJP, making him the youngest person to hold this position.
Tawde served in various legislative capacities. He was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 2008 to 2014 and served as the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 2011 to 2014. In 2014, he was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Borivali constituency.
He also held several key ministerial positions in the Maharashtra government between 2014 and 2019, including the Minister for School Education, Higher and Technical Education, Sports and Youth Welfare, Minority Development, and Marathi Language and Culture. His tenure was marked by efforts to improve the education system and promote Marathi culture.
He is married to Varsha Pawar Tawde, a social worker and writer. The couple has a daughter named Anvee Tawde. Tawde’s family has a strong connection to the RSS, with his father, Shreedhar Ramchandra Tawde, being a member of the organization.
Since November 2021, Tawde is serving the party as the National General Secretary, a testament to his enduring influence and leadership within the party.
Vinod Tawde’s journey from a student activist to a senior leader in one of India’s major political parties highlights his dedication and resilience. His contributions to education and cultural affairs in Maharashtra have left a lasting impact, and his role in the BJP continues to shape the political landscape of India.
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