Babasaheb Bhosale

Babasaheb Bhosale Biography

Babasaheb Bhosale was a senior political leader from Maharashtra. He was associated with Indian National Congress and served as the 9th Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 21 January 1982, until 1 February 1983. He was a social worker and freedom fighter too. Though his tenure as a CM was short, it was a colourful one. His admirers and political rivals appreciated his witty one-liners. Bhosale was a surprise appointment when Indira Gandhi picked him up to succeed A R Antulay, aiming to snub senior Maratha leaders. Prior to his appointment as CM he served as Minister of law and judiciary in Antulay’s cabinet. He got a very rare opportunity to become state chief minister during his first term as member of state assembly.

Bhosale was born on 15 January 1921 in the Satara district of Maharashtra. He completed his graduation from Kolhapur, and also completed LLB. He completed Bar at Law in 1951 and practiced for ten years at Satara before he switched on to politics. He was involved with freedom struggle movement since his school days and has participated in Satyagraha in 1939. He spent one-and-a-half years in jail in 1941-1942. He contested in state assembly elections for the first time in 1978 from Nehru Nagar. But he was defeated. However he reached state assembly for the first time in 1980 state assembly elections.

He was induced to cabinet during his first term as an MLA, and in a surprise decision he was made Chief Minister in 1982 by then Congress leader and Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Though everyone raised eyebrows in political circles, no one came forward to question Gandhi's decision. In his short tenure of 377 days, he took many bold decisions. Free education for girls till matriculation, inauguration of the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court and formation of Gadchiroli district were his major reforms. He also initiated several welfare measures for freedom fighters including a pension scheme. Bhosale was the son-in-law of noted politician Tulsidas Yadav.

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Updated: June 17, 2016