Who is Ramrao Wadkute? Ex-NCP MLC gets BJP nomination for Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra

Key Highlights

• The BJP on Wednesday named Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, former Maharashtra minister Vinod Tawde, former Nagpur mayor Maya Chintaman Ivnate, and Ramrao Wadkute as its candidates from Maharashtra.
• Elections are being held for seven Rajya Sabha seats from the state that are falling vacant in April.
• Political background Wadkute hails from Hingoli district in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra and has been active in regional politics for several years.
• He is widely known as a leader associated with the Dhangar community, a politically significant pastoral community in the state, and has often raised issues related to the community, including demands for reservation.
• Wadkute began his political journey in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and gradually rose within the party ranks.