Ajit Gopchade
{{Short description|Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office = Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
| term_start = 3 April 2024
| constituency = Maharashtra
| party = Bharatiya Janata Party
| residence = Nanded
| predecessor = Narayan Rane
}}
Dr. Ajit Madhavrao Gopchade is an Indian politician and activist from Maharashra, who is serving as Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra state since 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-27 |title=Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: Full list of winners in polls to 56 Upper House seats |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/rajya-sabha-elections-2024-full-list-of-winners-in-polls-to-56-upper-house-seats/3406893/ |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}} He is representing Bharatiya Janata Party.{{Cite news |last=ANI |date=2024-02-15 |title="Didn't expect my candidature": BJP's Ajit Gopchade on RS nomination from Maharashtra |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/didnt-expect-my-candidature-bjps-raja-ajit-gopchade-on-rs-nomination-from-maharashtra20240215045950/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=ANI News}}
Early career
In 1992, Gopchade has finished his study on MBBS and joined with a group of over 300 Hindutva youth activists to Ayodhya for "karseva," or serving Lord Ram.{{Cite web |title=Photos Of BJP's Ajeet Gopchade Atop Babri Masjid During 1992 Demolition Go Viral After His Rajya Sabha Nomination |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/photos-of-bjps-ajeet-gopchade-atop-babri-masjid-during-1992-demolition-go-viral-after-his-rajya-sabha-nomination |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}} He admitted that he was in the widely shared 6 December 1992, picture of a group of young people gleefully standing atop one of the Babri Masjit's three domes.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-14 |title=A karsevak part of Babri demolition, a Congress turncoat and a woman professor: BJP's RS choices from Maharashtra |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-bjp-ashok-chavan-medha-kulkarni-ajit-gopchade-rajya-sabha-polls-9161355/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
Political career
After completing his M.D. at a government medical college, he joined the BJP and functioned as the convener of the party's doctors' cell. He was then elevated to the position of party vice-president in the state.{{Cite web |last=Londhe |first=Shrikant Ashok |title=Rajya Sabha : कोण आहेत अजित गोपछडे व मेधा कुलकर्णी? ज्यांना भाजपकडून राज्यसभेची उमेदवारी |url=https://marathi.hindustantimes.com/maharashtra/who-is-dr-ajit-gopchade-and-medha-kulkarni-why-bjp-announces-their-name-as-rajya-sabha-candidate-141707912523252.html |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Hindustan Times Marathi |language=mr}}
Because of his capacity to organize and his proactive involvement in setting up medical camps during COVID-19, the BJP has suggested that he run for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections in May 2020. But at the last moment, his name was omitted.{{Cite news |title=Rajya Sabha poll ticket for 'proud' Ram Janmabhoomi karsevak Ajit Gopchade |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/rajya-sabha-poll-ticket-for-proud-ram-janmabhoomi-karsevak-ajit-gopchade/cid/2001033 |access-date=2024-07-03 |newspaper=The Telegraph | location=India | first=J. P. | last=Yadav | date=17 February 2024 |language=en}}
Rajya Sabha member (2024–present)
In 2024, he was nominated to Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra by BJP along with his colleagues Medha Kulkarni and Ashok Chavan.{{Cite news |title=Why BJP cleared Congress path in Rajya Sabha polls in Maharashtra |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-bjp-cleared-congress-path-in-rajya-sabha-polls-in-maharashtra-2503403-2024-02-17 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=India Today |language=en | first=Dhaval S. | last=Kulkarni | date=17 February 2024}}
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century Indian politicians
Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Maharashtra