After Ajit Pawar’s rebellion, NCP’s Jitendra Awhad is Maharashtra’s new Leader of Opposition

Starting his political career with the Congress, Awhad held positions such as Chief Secretary & General Secretary NSUI, Maharashtra and also served as General Secretary of all India NSUI in 1991. In 1996 Awhad was appointed the Maharashtra Youth Congress President.

He subsequently joined the NCP when Sharad Pawar split from the Congress. His loyalty to towards senior Pawar had earned him the nomination as a Member of the Legislative Council of Maharashtra for two consecutive terms in 2002 and 2008.

Awhad made his first successful electoral foray in the 2009 Assembly elections, winning from the Muslim-dominated Mumbra-Kalwa constituency by a margin of 15,689 votes against a Shiv Sena candidate. He has since gone on to represent the seat for two more terms in 2014 and 2019.

Awhad had served briefly as the Cabinet minister for Medical Education & Horticulture in 2014. In 2019, when the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government was formed, Awhad was made the Housing Minister in the state.

Awhad, who belongs to the OBC community, has been vocal against what he claims are “Manuvadi forces” in the country. In 2018, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had told a sessions court that suspected right-wing activists had carried out a reconnaissance of several persons, including Awhad, who were on the target list of the group to which he belonged, for “speaking against the Hindu religion”.

Awhad had found himself embroiled in a controversy in 2020 when he, along with 15-20 individuals, had allegedly assaulted a Thane-based civil engineer for posting his morphed photograph. An FIR had been filed against Awhad and he was arrested. However, he was granted bail on the same day.

The BJP has since been gunning for Awhad, seeking action against him.