Varsha Gaikwad
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Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (born 3 February 1975) is an Indian politician serving as a member of parliament, Lok Sabha. She is the President of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee. Earlier, she was a four term Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLA) represented the Dharavi Assembly Constituency in Mumbai (2004-2024).[1][2][3][4] She served as the Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra from 30 December 2019 to 29 June 2022.
Gaikwad won the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. She defeated BJP candidate Adv. Ujjwal Nikam.[5] She is one of the three Buddhist MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha.[6]
Positions held
- 2004 – 2009: Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (1st term)
- 2009 – 2014: Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (2nd term)
- 2009 - 2010: State Minister for Medical Education, Higher and Technical Education, Tourism, Special Assistance
- 2010 – 2014: Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development, Government of Maharashtra[7][8]
- 2014 – 2019: Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (3rd term)
- 2019 – 2024: Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (4th term)[9]
- Cabinet Minister for School Education Department, Government of Maharashtra
- 2024 – current : Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Personal life
Varsha Gaikwad's father is Eknath Gaikwad, who was a three term Member of parliament. She belongs to an Ambedkarite Buddhist family.[10][11][12][13] She was lecturer in Siddharth College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai.[citation needed]
References
- ^ https://marathi.abplive.com/news/politics/3rd-congress-mla-resigns-varsha-gaikwad-meets-president-rahul-narvekar-three-more-will-resigne-soon-1291552/amp
- ^ "Dharavi Maharashtra Assembly Constituency Elections". Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Gaikwad Varsha Eknath of INC WINS the Dharavi constituency Maharastra Assembly Election 2014". newsreporter.in. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Varsha Gaikwad tipped to be Mumbai Congress women's wing chief". mid-day.com. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-lok-sabha-elections-2024-congress-nominates-varsha-gaikwad-for-north-central-mumbai-seat-amid-controversy
- ^ https://www.dhammabharat.com/buddhist-mps-in-18th-loksabha/
- ^ "Minister for Women and Child Development". indianexpress.com. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "minister for women and child welfare Varsha Gaikwad said Sunday. The minister said the owner of the pizza outlet must be prosecuted for employing a minor and letting him drive a motorcycle without a driving licence". indianexpress.com. July 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ https://marathi.abplive.com/news/politics/3rd-congress-mla-resigns-varsha-gaikwad-meets-president-rahul-narvekar-three-more-will-resigne-soon-1291552/amp
- ^ https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/23-ministers-belong-to-the-maratha-community-in-thackeray-government-126408482.html
- ^ "39-year-old Varsha Gaikwad, the Congress candidate here". indianexpress.com. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "जानिए- कौन हैं उद्धव कैबिनेट में शामिल हुईं तीन ताकतवर महिलाएं". 31 December 2019.
- ^ https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/maha-cabinet-expansion-first-cabinet-expansion-of-maha-government-led-by-cm-uddhav-thackeray-126407251.html