Pune: Member of Parliament (MP) Murlidhar Mohol has taken charge as Minister of State (MoS) Civil Aviation in the historic Modi 3.0 government. Interestingly, Mohol is a first-time MP from Pune had been sworn in as Minister of State on June 9. Mohol is also the third person from the city to join the Union Cabinet and second Pune MP to become a Union Minister in last 30 years. Suresh Kalmadi of Congress was elected to Loksabha while Prakash Javadekar of BJP was a Rajya Sabha MP, prior to Mohol in last three decades.
A close aide of Maharashtra's former CM Devendra Fadnavis, Mohol also turns out to be the first wrestler from Maharashtra state and only Maratha leader from Maharashtra BJP unit to have a ministerial birth in the third term of Narendra Modi government. Only two BJP members were elected from Western Maharashtra, Mohol from Pune and Udayanraje Bhonsle, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, from Satara.
Mohol, who honed his wrestling skills at the Kasba Bavda Government Wrestling Center and the Jai Bhavani Shahupuri Talim in Shahuwadi from 1990 to 1997, maintains close ties with his fellow wrestlers. His familial ties to wrestling run deep, with his grandfather, the late Mamasaheb Mohol having played a significant role in his upbringing. Mohol himself has trained wrestlers in Pune, Solapur, and the surrounding areas, fostering a legacy that extends within his own family.
Mohol completed his education in Pune up to the 10th grade, and then underwent training in Kolhapur. He descended into the political arena around 1993. Juggling various responsibilities within the party organization, Mohol has held positions such as PMC Corporator for four times, Chairman of PMC Standing Committee, and Mayor of Pune city. Mohol was also active during the Covid-19 pandemic in Pune.
