Early Life and Education
Uday Samant was born on December 26, 1975, in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. He pursued a Diploma in Engineering from Dnyaneshwar University, Pune. His early life in Ratnagiri and his educational background laid the foundation for his interest in public service and politics.
Political Career
Uday Samant is a prominent politician from Maharashtra, affiliated with the Shiv Sena party (Eknath Shinde). He has been elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly multiple times, representing the Ratnagiri constituency. His political career includes:
- 2004: Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the first time.
- 2009: Re-elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
- 2014: Re-elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
- 2019: Re-elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
Major Achievements
- Ministerial Roles: Uday Samant has held several significant ministerial positions in the Maharashtra government. He served as the Minister of State for Urban Development from June 2013 to September 2014. He was also the Guardian Minister of Ratnagiri district during this period.
- Higher and Technical Education: From December 2019 to June 2022, he served as the Minister of Higher and Technical Education in the Uddhav Thackeray-led government.
- Industries Minister: Since August 2022, he has been serving as the Cabinet Minister for Industries in the Eknath Shinde-led government.
Key Political Initiatives
Samant has been at the forefront of several key initiatives aimed at boosting Maharashtra’s education sector. His tenure has seen the introduction of new policies to enhance the quality of higher education, as well as initiatives to improve access to technical education for underprivileged students. He has also worked on expanding the reach of educational institutions to rural and semi-urban areas, thus democratizing access to quality education.
Controversy
Breach of Privilege Motion: Anil Parab, a leader from Shiv Sena (UBT), moved a breach of privilege motion against Uday Samant. Parab accused Samant of providing false information to the Legislative Council regarding the blacklisting of a South Mumbai road contractor and the recovery of a fine.
Social Media
Personal Life
Details about Uday Samant’s personal life are kept relatively private. However, his dedication to his political career and public service is evident in his work and the respect he commands within the political community.
Promises and Future Commitments
Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant, during his tour of Germany, met with Mercedes-Benz executives to discuss investment opportunities. Mercedes-Benz confirmed its plan to invest $24 million in India for 2024. Minister Samant highlighted that Mercedes-Benz will invest ₹3,000 crore in Maharashtra this year, which is expected to generate significant employment opportunities in the state.
Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant announced at the ASSOCHAM MahaMSMErashtra Empowerment Summit that the state aims to increase its startup count to 50,000. He highlighted Maharashtra’s current leadership with 8,300 startups and emphasized the government’s commitment to providing top-tier support to companies of all sizes. Samant stressed the importance of monitoring startup sustainability and addressing challenges. Additionally, Rajendra Nimbalkar from MSSIDC outlined a ₹730 crore investment plan under the RAMP Programme to boost the MSME sector with subsidies, marketing support, and new Business Facilitation Centers.
After the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse that resulted in 17 deaths and 75 injuries, Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant announced in the Legislative Council that a new hoarding policy will be introduced. A fresh survey of hoardings is set to be completed within 30 days. Samant also stated that the Railways will be instructed to adhere to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) rules regarding hoardings on railway land. Additionally, digital hoardings will be surveyed, and illegal ones will be removed. This announcement follows a committee inquiry into the incident.
Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant announced that the state government is drafting a law to take action against fake pathology labs. The proposed legislation will include strict regulations and impose penalties on offenders. Samant explained that the law will feature clear rules and the formation of task forces to investigate violations. Under the new law, lab registrations will be valid for three years and must be conducted transparently online.
Industry Minister Uday Samant pledged to convert nearly 100,000 properties previously managed by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Newtownship Development Authority (PCNTDA) into freehold status. He stated that the decision will depend on whether the property transfers impose any financial burden on the municipal corporation or the state government. PCNTDA, established in 1972, leased land for 99 years before merging with the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) in 2021.