Murlidhar Kisan Mohol is an Indian politician and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Pune Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 Indian general election. Despite being a first-term MP, he was appointed as the Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation in the Indian central government. Previously, Mohol served as the Mayor of Pune from November 2019 to March 2022.
Murlidhar Mohol | |
|---|---|
| मुरलीधर मोहोळ | |
 | |
| Union Minister of State Government of India | |
| Assumed office 11 June 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Minister | |
| Ministry & Department's | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 4 June 2024 | |
| Constituency | Pune |
| Mayor of Pune | |
| In office November 2019 – 15 March 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Mukta Tilak |
| Succeeded by | Administrative Rule |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 November 1974 Pune |
| Political party | Bhartiya Janata Party |
| Website | www |
Early life
editMurlidhar Kisan Mohol was born in Mulshi taluka. In 1985, his family moved to Pune, settling in Kothrud. Coming from a family of wrestlers, Mohol took up wrestling during his school years and pursued formal training in Kolhapur while continuing his education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Shivaji University. At the age of 12, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), laying the foundation for his political career. After completing his education in 1996, Mohol became actively involved in politics with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), rising through the ranks to become the chief of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) for Pune.[1][2]
Political career
editTimeline
edit- 1993: Entered politics and began organizing at the ward level in Pune.[3][4]
- 2002: Elected as a member of the Municipal Board of Education.[3]
- 2006: Won the municipal by-election for the Kelewadi Ward.[3]
- 2009: Contested the state assembly elections from Khadakwasla but was defeated.[3]
- 2012: His wife, Monica Mohol, won the municipal election from Ideal Colony.[3]
- 2017: Elected as a corporator from the 12 C ward of Pune Municipal Corporation and appointed chairman of the Standing Committee.[5]
- November 2019: Elected as the Mayor of Pune, succeeding Mukta Tilak.[5]
- 2021: Under his leadership, Pune was recognized as one of the 50 champion cities for the Global Mayors Challenge.[5]
- March 2022: The term of the Pune Municipal Corporation ended, concluding his tenure as Mayor.[5]
- 2024: Elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from Pune Lok Sabha constituency and inducted as a Minister of State in the Narendra Modi government.[6][7][8]
Electoral History
edit| Year | Election | Constituency | Opponent | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Pune Municipal Corporation | Kelewadi Ward | Won | + | |
| 2009 | Maharashtra Legislative Assembly | Khadakwasla | Ramesh Wanjale (MNS) | Lost | -49,793[9] |
| 2017 | Pune Municipal Corporation | 12 C Ward | Won | + | |
| 2024 | 2024 Indian general election | Pune | Ravindra Dhangekar (INC) | Won | +123,038 votes[10][11] |
Mayor of Pune
editMohol served as the Mayor of Pune from November 2019 to 2022. He succeeded Mukta Tilak in this role. During his tenure, Mohol focused on several key initiatives aimed at improving the city's infrastructure and public services.
Pune as a Champion City
editDuring Murlidhar Mohol's tenure as Mayor of Pune, the city was recognized as one of the 50 Champion Cities in the 2021 Global Mayors Challenge, organized by Bloomberg Philanthropies.[12] This recognition was awarded for Pune's innovative urban solutions developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city's proposal focused on increasing the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce vehicular pollution, which contributes nearly 25% of particulate pollution in Pune. The plan included preparing a city EV-readiness plan and establishing an EV fund to incentivize the use of electric vehicles. This initiative was part of Pune's broader efforts to promote sustainable urban mobility and improve air quality. The recognition as a Champion City highlighted Pune's commitment to innovative and sustainable urban development under Mohol's leadership.[13]
Pollution Abatement of Rivers Mula-Mutha Project
editMohol played a key role in the Pollution Abatement of Rivers Mula-Mutha project, which is supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.[14] This initiative aims to address the severe pollution issues affecting the Mula-Mutha River in Pune. The project involves an Official Development Assistance (ODA) amounting to Rs. 1470 crore. The foundation stone for this significant environmental project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022.[15] The project's objective is to improve the river's water quality, enhance the riverfront areas, and promote sustainable urban development in Pune.[16]
Medical College
editOne of his significant contributions was the establishment of the Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College, which was proposed during the BJP’s inaugural Standing Committee Budget session of 2017-18 under his chairmanship. The project received an initial allocation of Rs. 25 crores and aimed to address the healthcare needs of Pune’s residents.[17][18]
Pune Metro Project
editThe Pune Metro Rail Project, approved by the Government of India in 2016, saw notable developments under his leadership. A key milestone was the inauguration of a 12 km segment of the Pune Metro on March 6, 2022, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This segment was an important step in improving the city's transportation system. The project also focused on using solar power, which helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 25,000 tons annually.[19]
Member of Parliament
edit
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mohol contested from the Pune constituency as a candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He won the election, defeating Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar by a margin of 123,038 votes.[10][11] This victory allowed the BJP to retain the Pune seat for the third consecutive term.[11] Mohol's background as a former mayor of Pune and his connection to the Maratha community were considered significant factors in his electoral success. As a first-time Member of Parliament, Mohol was appointed as a Minister of State in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third government.[8]
See also
editExternal links
edit- Murlidhar Mohol on Twitter
References
edit- ^ Bose, Mrityunjay. "Modi Government 3.0 | Murlidhar Mohol's journey from wrestler to minister". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "RSS worker, wrestler, campaigner for Patil and now, the first citizen of Pune". The Indian Express. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "From wrestler to minister: A glimpse into Mohol's journey". Pune Mirror. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ India Today (13 July 2024). "Ex-local body heads | High jumpers". Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Modi Government 3.0". Deccan Herald. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Murlidhar Mohol is BJP candidate for Pune, no new faces for Sangli". Indian Express. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Who Is Murlidhar Mohol? All You Need To Know About Pune's New MP". Free Press Journal. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ a b "First time MP from Pune Murlidhar Mohol sworn in as minister in union cabinet". India Today. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "MNS opens account with big victory in Khadakwasla". The Indian Express. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Pune Lok Sabha Election Results 2024 Highlights: BJP's Murlidhar Mohol wins". Financial Express. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Hat-trick for BJP as Murlidhar Mohol clinches Pune LS seat". Hindustan Times. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Mayors Challenge: Announcing this year's 50 Champion Cities | Bloomberg Cities". bloombergcities.jhu.edu. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "For its action plan to promote use of Electric Vehicles, Pune makes it to list of '50 champion cities' across the world". The Indian Express. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Project for Pollution Abatement of River Mula-Mutha in Pune ｜ About JICA - JICA". www.jica.go.jp. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "PM Modi to launch infra projects in Pune today". Financialexpress. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ Correspondent, A. C. N. (7 March 2022). "Japan helps Pune improve its sanitary environment, to fund Rs 1470 Cr Pollution Abatement of Mula-Mutha River project". Asian Community News. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Pune: PMC's medical college may start intake by December, says mayor Murlidhar Mohol | TOI Original - Times of India Videos". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Reporter (10 November 2020). "Pune: PMC Sends Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical Hospital Proposal to MHSU". Punekar News. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Prime Minister inaugurates Pune Metro Rail Project". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 11 June 2024.