Early Life and Education
Jitendra Satish Awhad was born on August 5, 1963, in Nashik, Maharashtra. He completed his schooling at St. John the Baptist High School in Thane. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts at Mumbai University and later completed a master’s in Labour Studies at the same university in 1989. He also holds a PhD in “The History of Socio-Religious Movement in Maharashtra, a Sub-Alternate View” from Mumbai University, completed in 2013.
Political Career
Jitendra Awhad began his political journey as the first National President of the Youth National Congress Party (NCP) (Sharad Pawar) in 1999. He was elected as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in 2002 and re-elected in 2008. In 2009, he contested and won the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election from the Mumbra-Kalwa constituency, a seat he has held since.
Positions Held:
- Cabinet Minister of Medical Education and Horticulture (2014)
- Cabinet Minister of Housing and Minority Affairs (2019-2022)
Currently, he is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly1.
Major Achievements
- Affordable Housing Projects: As Housing Minister, Awhad played a crucial role in promoting affordable housing projects, aiming to provide better living conditions for low-income families.
- Infrastructure Development: His tenure as Public Works Minister saw significant advancements in road construction and maintenance, particularly in urban and rural areas of Maharashtra.
- Public Welfare Schemes: Awhad has been instrumental in implementing various public welfare schemes that benefit marginalized communities.
Key Political Initiatives
- Slum Redevelopment: Awhad has been a strong advocate for slum redevelopment projects, aiming to provide better housing and infrastructure to slum dwellers.
- Improved Public Transport: He has worked on enhancing public transportation facilities in Thane and surrounding areas, including the introduction of new bus routes and improved local transit systems.
- Educational Support: Under his leadership, several educational institutions have received support for infrastructure and development, especially in underprivileged areas.
Controversy
1. Molestation Case and Resignation
In November 2022, Jitendra Awhad resigned after two FIRs were registered against him within 72 hours. One of the cases involved a molestation allegation by a BJP worker during the inauguration of the Kalwa-Khadi bridge.
2. Forcible Shutdown of Movie Screening
In November 2022, Awhad and his supporters forcibly stopped the screening of the movie “Har Har Mahadev” in Thane, alleging that the film distorted the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Moviegoers who protested were allegedly beaten.
3. Assault on Civil Engineer
In April 2020, Awhad was accused of assaulting a civil engineer named Anant Karmuse. The incident occurred after Karmuse posted a morphed photograph of Awhad online.
4. Insulting Remarks on Sindhi Community
5. Tearing of BR Ambedkar’s Poster
In May 2024, Awhad was involved in a controversy for accidentally tearing a poster of BR Ambedkar during a protest. He has sought to club multiple FIRs related to this incident.
6. Attack on Thane Municipal Corporation Official
Social Media
Personal Life
Jitendra Awhad is married to Smt. Aarti Awhad, and they have two children. His personal life remains relatively private, focusing primarily on his public duties and responsibilities.
Questions Raised
In the assembly, MLA Jitendra Awhad raised concerns about 114 acres of land in Borivali, alleging that the revenue minister illegally handed it over. He criticized the state government for demolishing huts of the poor while granting prime land to wealthy individuals, accusing them of widening the gap between the rich and the poor.
Despite a 1998 state government circular prohibiting the demolition of huts during monsoons, around 400 families in Chheda Nagar and many others in Mumbai, including Haji Malang and Chembur, suffered as their huts were demolished during the rainy season, leaving them exposed.
MLA Jitendra Awhad has raised concerns about the exorbitant electricity bills charged by Torrent, a private company that began supplying power to Kalwa, Mumbra, and surrounding areas in 2017. Awhad criticized the state government, highlighting that residents are receiving bills as high as ₹4,000 despite minimal electricity usage, with many citizens living below the poverty line. He urged the government to address the issue promptly to avoid potential unrest and law and order problems. Awhad noted that both the previous and current governments have been in power since Torrent’s inception but have failed to resolve the situation.
Critics have accused the government of being anti-Dalit and anti-Bahujan, citing a three-year halt in scholarships for students from SC, ST, OBC, and Maratha communities. They also point out that PhD fellowships have been discontinued. In the Legislative Assembly, concerns were raised about these injustices, and the government was called upon to provide an explanation.
MLA Jitendra Awhad brought several pressing issues to the state government’s attention in the House today. These included the high costs associated with ministerial bungalows, rising crime rates, incidents of hate speech, and concerns related to the SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) in Navi Mumbai.
Promises and Future Commitments
- Affordable Housing: Awhad has promised to continue working on affordable housing projects to ensure better living conditions for the economically weaker sections of society.
The repeated closure of the dumping ground in Thane has led to garbage accumulating in the city, posing a health risk. The Thane Municipal Commissioner is urged to address this issue to prevent potential diseases.
MLA Jitendra Awhad promised to resolve Mumbra’s water issues by arranging 10 to 12 new water tanks, ensuring a permanent solution to the problem.
MLA Jitendra Awhad announced the near completion of 80% of the Kalwa-Mumbra Chowpatty project, a recreational space designed to serve as a relaxation point for the local community.