Keshavrao Jedhe
| Keshavrao Marutrao Jedhe | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 May 1886 Maharashtra, India |
| Died | 12 November 1959 Pune, India |
| Organization | Indian National Congress, Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWPI). |
| Movement | Indian Independence Movement & Samyukta Maharashtra |
Keshavrao Marutrao Jedhe (देशभक्त केशवराव जेधे) was a leading Freedom Fighter and Congress Leader from Pune at the time of Indian Independence and Chairman of Samyukta Maharashtra Movement in 1956. The Famous Swargate chowk in Pune is named after Keshavrao Jedhe.
In the 1930s Keshavrao Jedhe joined the Congress and several youths were attracted towards the party. He brought the Maratha community of Maharashtra into mainstream politics and won the first election in November 1934 for the Bombay Presidency legislative council. At this time there was a vacuum in Congress Leadership after Lokmanya Tilak's death, eventually Keshwarao Jedhe took over congress leadership in Pune. In 1938, Keshavrao became president of the state Congress and Jedhe Mansion was the centre of activity. Keshavrao Jedhe was instrumental in building the Congress Bhavan in Pune but Jedhe Mansion continued to be the inspiration for common Congressmen.
Things changed after Independence. In 1948, after Mahatama Gandhi's death Keshavrao was unhappy with Congress leaders, he left the party to become one of the founder members of Peasants and Workers Party (PWPI). He fought the first Lok Sabha election against his friend and Congress candidate N. V. Gadgil but lost. Disappointed with PWP leaders, Jedhe returned to the Congress fold in August 1952.
Later, Yashwantrao Chavan often said he joined the Congress only because of Keshavrao.
The Indian National Congress was pledged to linguistic states, but the States Re-organisation Committee recommended a bi-lingual state for Maharashtra-Gujarat, with Mumbai as its capital. Its inauguration on 1 November 1956, caused a great political stir and, under the leadership of Keshavrao Jedhe, an all-party meeting was held in Pune and Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was founded on 6 February 1956. In the second general election the Samiti defeated the stalwarts of Congress by securing 101 seats out of 133, including 12 from Mumbai. The Congress could form a government only with the support of Gujarat, Marathwada and Vidarbha.Yashwantrao Chavan became the first Chief Minister of the bi-lingual Bombay State.
...
Wikipedia