Union Minister Raosaheb Patil Danve named new Maharashtra BJP chief

Mumbai: Former Union minister Raosaheb Patil Danve was re-elected as the BJP chief of Maharashtra. Danve’s appointment was announced at a meeting of senior BJP functionaries where Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and party’s central observers were present. Danve will have a three year term. 60-year-old Danve had in January 2015 succeeded Devendra Fadnavis as state unit chief after the latter became the Chief Minister after the party’s stunning victory in the October 2014 Assembly elections. [caption id=“attachment_2588874” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Danve. Facebook [/caption] Closely associated with senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde, Danve is the MP from Jalna Parliamentary constituency in the state. He was Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. He quit as minister last year, months after becoming state BJP chief. Starting his political career from the panchayat level, Danve has been an MLA from Bhokardan assembly constituency twice and has won the last four parliamentary elections in a row. He has been actively associated with the cooperative movement in the state and also been a former vice president of the party in Maharashtra. PTI