Pune: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has declared Amit Gorkhe, the Pimpri Assembly head, as their candidate for the Legislative Council. If elected, Pimpri-Chinchwad will have a total of five representatives: three in the Legislative Assembly and two in the Legislative Council.

With the Lok Sabha election results announced, the race for the Maharashtra Legislative Council has begun, with elections to be held for 11 seats. The last date to file nominations is July 2, and Gorkhe's candidacy was officially announced on July 1.

Who is Amit Gorkhe?

Amit Gorkhe hails from Shrigonda in Ahmednagar district but has been a resident of Pimpri-Chinchwad for the past 40 years. He is the former president of the Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation.

Known as a highly educated youth leader from the Matang community, Gorkhe holds a Master's degree in Social Science and an MBA in Human Resources.

Gorkhe is the founder and president of the Novel Education Society, contributing significantly to the educational sector in Pimpri-Chinchwad. He is also a recipient of the National Youth Award from the Government of India for his work in education for Scheduled Castes and was honored by the President of India.

Gorkhe's journey from a newspaper vendor to a nominee for the Legislative Council is remarkable. He has deep-rooted connections with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from a young age and is considered a first-class intellectual. He is regarded as a young leader who rose from extreme poverty within the Dalit community.

Currently, Gorkhe serves as the state secretary of BJP and the head of the Pimpri Assembly election campaign. He is known to have the favor of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

During his brief four-month tenure as the head of the Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation, he stabilized the organization despite the limited time.