Varsha Gaikwad

Varsha Eknath Gaikwad
Varsha Gaikwad (L) and Krishna Tirath (R) in New Delhi
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Assumed office
24 June 2024
PresidentDroupadi Murmu
Speaker of LSOm Birla
Preceded byPoonam Mahajan
ConstituencyMumbai North Central
President of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee
Assumed office
09 June 2023
National President CongressMallikarjun Kharge
Preceded byBhai Jagtap
Minister of School Education
Government of Maharashtra
In office
30 December 2019 – 29 June 2022
GovernorBhagat Singh Koshyari
Chief MinisterUddhav Thackeray
Dy Chief MinisterAjit Pawar
Guardian MinistersHingoli District
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Minister of Woman and Child Development
Government of Maharashtra
In office
11 November 2010 – 26 September 2014
Governor
Chief MinisterPrithviraj Chavan
Dy Chief MinisterAjit Pawar
Guardian Ministers
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
In office
25 September 2004 – 18 June 2024
Governor
Speaker of Assembly
Preceded byEknath Gaikwad
Succeeded byVacant
ConstituencyDharavi
Minister of State Government of Maharashtra
In office
07 November 2009 – 10 November 2010
Minister
Governor
Chief MinisterAshok Chavan
Dy Chief MinisterChhagan Bhujbal
Guardian MinistersHingoli District
Personal details
Born (1975-02-03) 3 February 1975 (age 49)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
Parent
EducationM.Sc (Maths), B.Ed
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionProfessor

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

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Personal life

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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

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  1. ^ https://marathi.abplive.com/news/politics/3rd-congress-mla-resigns-varsha-gaikwad-meets-president-rahul-narvekar-three-more-will-resigne-soon-1291552/amp
  2. ^ "Dharavi Maharashtra Assembly Constituency Elections". Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Gaikwad Varsha Eknath of INC WINS the Dharavi constituency Maharastra Assembly Election 2014". newsreporter.in. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Varsha Gaikwad tipped to be Mumbai Congress women's wing chief". mid-day.com. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  5. ^ https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-lok-sabha-elections-2024-congress-nominates-varsha-gaikwad-for-north-central-mumbai-seat-amid-controversy
  6. ^ https://www.dhammabharat.com/buddhist-mps-in-18th-loksabha/
  7. ^ "Minister for Women and Child Development". indianexpress.com. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ https://marathi.abplive.com/news/politics/3rd-congress-mla-resigns-varsha-gaikwad-meets-president-rahul-narvekar-three-more-will-resigne-soon-1291552/amp
  10. ^ https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/23-ministers-belong-to-the-maratha-community-in-thackeray-government-126408482.html
  11. ^ "39-year-old Varsha Gaikwad, the Congress candidate here". indianexpress.com. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  12. ^ "जानिए- कौन हैं उद्धव कैबिनेट में शामिल हुईं तीन ताकतवर महिलाएं". 31 December 2019.
  13. ^ https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/maha-cabinet-expansion-first-cabinet-expansion-of-maha-government-led-by-cm-uddhav-thackeray-126407251.html