Ravindra Chavan

Ravindra Dattatray Chavan (September 20, 1970) is an Indian politician affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He serves as an MLA representing the Dombivli Assembly constituency in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, having won elections in 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024. He served as a cabinet minister in the Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra, handling the portfolios of the Public Works Department (excluding Public Undertakings) and the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection departments.

He also served as the Guardian Minister for Palghar and Sindhudurg districts. Previously, he held the position of Cabinet Minister for Ports, Information and Technology, Medical Education, and Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection from 2016 to 2019.

In 2020, Chavan was appointed as the General Secretary of the BJP's Maharashtra unit. On 11 January 2025, he was appointed as the Working President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtra.

Early life

Ravindra Chavan completed his schooling in Mumbai. He completed his 12th standard education and pursued further studies at Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik.

Political career

In 2002, Ravindra Chavan was appointed as the Kalyan Sub-District President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. In 2005, he was elected as a corporator in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, representing the Savarkar Road ward in Dombivli. In 2007, he became the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation.

During his tenure as a corporator, Chavan was elected as the first Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Dombivli Assembly constituency in 2009, defeating Rajesh Kadam of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and securing 61,104 votes on the ticket of the Shiv Sena- BJP alliance.

Chavan won the Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2014 and 2019. In the 2019 Maharashtra legislative elections, he won by receiving the highest number of votes in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. In 2016, he was appointed Cabinet Minister in Maharashtra governnment, with the portfolio of Ports, Information Technology, Medical Education, and Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection. In February 2018, Chavan was appointed as the Guardian Minister of Raigad district, succeeding Prakash Mehta. In July 2019, Chavan was also appointed the Guardian Minister of Palghar district.

Following the dissolution of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and the establishment of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, Chavan continued to serve as an MLA and was appointed General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtra in July 2020. In 2022, he was appointed as a Cabinet Minister in the Shinde-Fadnavis government, responsible for the Ministry of Public Works (excluding Public Undertakings). In September 2022, the Shinde-led government appointed him as Guardian Minister of Palghar district and Sindhudurg district.

In 2024, Ravindra Chavan was re-elected from the Dombivli Assembly constituency for the fourth consecutive term, with a margin of 77,106 votes.

Work

As an MLA

In June 2011, Chavan facilitated the confirmation of 285 KDMC workers who were at risk of job termination by addressing a legal issue with KDMC officials. He had previously advocated for a salary increase for these workers in 2007.

In July 2011, Ravindra Chavan led a protest in Kalyan West with over 400 residents against the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation's delay in completing the 1.5 km Govindwadi bypass. After refusing bail, he was jailed and began a hunger strike demanding action on stalled infrastructure projects, including the Mumbra–Dombivli road.

In August 2011, Ravindra Chavan led a protest, the ''Taala Thoko Andolan'', at the Central Railway Divisional Railway Manager's office in Mumbai to address infrastructure issues in Dombivli. He raised demands for a road over bridge at Thakurli, better parking facilities near Dombivli railway station, and the completion of the Kalyan-Dombivli parallel road, among others. Chavan pledged ₹2 crore from the MLA fund for the Thakurli project. The Central Railway management assured action on the raised concerns.

He organizes the Namo Namo Dandiya event in Dombivli since 2018, attracting up to 50,000 participants daily during Navratri in an air-conditioned venue at the Sawlaram Maharaj Sports Complex.

As a Minister

As Minister of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection, Ravindra Chavan launched the 'Anandacha Shidha' initiative in 2022, which provided subsidized rations to economically disadvantaged families during Diwali.

In 2022, he worked to improve temple infrastructure in the Konkan region, notably at Anganewadi and Kunkeshwar temples, by constructing concrete roads, providing modern sanitation facilities, and enhancing mobile connectivity for devotees.

In 2023, the Project Management Information System (PMIS) was launched by Chavan, serving as the Public Works Department minister, with the goal of improving transparency and streamlining project oversight. He also made efforts to tackle corruption, particularly addressing reported 'cash-for-transfers' practices and strengthening accountability in personnel management. In the same year, Chavan worked on the beautification and infrastructure development project for 12 Konkan Railway stations, with a budget of 56.25 crore, to promote tourism in the Konkan region.

From 2021 to 2023, Ravindra Chavan, as the Minister of Public Works, facilitated development works worth ₹92,000 crore through the Public Works Department, focusing on roads, bridges, and buildings across Maharashtra. He also made the distribution of free solar power units to housing societies in Dombivli under the Central Government's Renewable Energy Sources Scheme, benefiting 268 housing complexes and encouraging the adoption of solar energy in the region. Chavan addressed the long-standing delays in the Mumbai-Goa highway project, which had been delayed for 12 years. Under his leadership, land acquisition issues were resolved, and the residents of Konkan, who had contributed land, received compensation.

In 2024, while serving as Guardian Minister, Chavan facilitated the resettlement of 70 homeless Katkari families in Sindhudurg district by providing land for building homes. He was appointed as the Working President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtra, on January 11, 2025.

Positions held

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chavan, Ravindra
Living people
People from Kalyan-Dombivli
Maharashtra MLAs 2009–2014
1964 births
Maharashtra MLAs 2014–2019
Maharashtra MLAs 2019–2024
Maharashtra MLAs 2024–2029
Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Maharashtra