Ramdas Bandu Athawale (English: Ramdas Bandu Athawale, born 25 December 1959) is an Indian politician from Maharashtra. He is known as the President of the Republican Party of India (A). He holds the post of ‘Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment’ in the Narendra Modi government and leads Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha. Earlier, Ramdas Athawale was MP from Pandharpur in the Lok Sabha.
Ramdas Athawale was born on 25 December 1959 in Agalgaon, Sangli district, Maharashtra. He is a follower of Buddhism. His father’s name is Bandu Bapu and mother’s name is Honsabai Bandu Athawale. Ramdas Athawale completed his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Siddharth College of Law, Mumbai and then obtained the LLB degree. His wife is Seema Athawale. The son’s name is Jeet Athawale.
Ramdas Athawale has been the editor of a weekly magazine named ‘Bhumika’. Apart from this, he is a founding member of Sahitya Mahamandal. He has also been the President of Babasaheb Ambedkar Foundation and Budha Kalavant Academy (Buddhist Artists Academy). Along with this, he has also held the post of founding president of Buddha Dhamma Parishad (Buddhist Conference). Ramdas Athawale was in the title role in a Marathi film ‘Anyayacha Pratikar’ and in some minor roles in another Marathi film ‘Joshi Ki Kamble’. Along with this, he also played roles in Marathi plays like ‘Pyala’.
After the split of the Dalit Panther Movement in 1974, Ramdas Athawale along with Arun Kamble and Gangadhar Gade led Dalit politics in Maharashtra. This step of Ramdas Athawale became the cause of division in the Republican Party of India. After that Athawale formed his own party Republican Party of India (Athawale). He was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council between 1990 and 1996. During this period, Athawale served as Cabinet Minister in the Social Welfare and Transport Department in the Government of Maharashtra.
During 1998-1999, Athawale won the election as MP from Mumbai North Central in the 12th Lok Sabha. After that, Athawale reached Parliament by winning from Pandharpur Lok Sabha seat in 13th Lok Sabha in 1999 and 14th Lok Sabha in 2004. In 2009, Ramdas Athawale contested the elections from Shirdi Lok Sabha seat but he had to face defeat. After this, in 2011, Athawale distanced himself from the NCP-Congress alliance. After this, Athawale’s party contested the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections in alliance with Shiv Sena-BJP.
Ramdas Athawale is an expert in getting Dalit votes in his favor. Because of this, Ramdas Athawale formed an alliance with different parties. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Athawale’s party contested the elections in alliance with the NDA. In 2014, Athawale became a Rajya Sabha member and on 6 July 2016, he became Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
