Chandrakant Handore

Chandrakant Damodhar Handore (born 13 March 1957) is an Indian politician and the current Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from Maharashtra.^[2][3][4] He is an Indian National Congress member and had represented Chembur in 12th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in Vilasrao Deshmukh ministry.^[5] On 5 February 2021, Handore appointed as a Working President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.^[6]

Chandrakant Handore
Handore in 2024
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 April 2024 (2024-04-03)
President	Droupadi Murmu
Preceded by	Kumar Ketkar
Constituency	Maharashtra
Permanent Invitee of the Congress Working Committee[1]
Incumbent
Assumed office November 2023
President of the Bhim Shakti
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 November 2001
Working President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 February 2021
In charge of the Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office 2020
Vice-President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee
In office 2014–2021
Social Justice Minister of the Government of Maharashtra
In office 2004–2009
Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
In office 2004–2014
Preceded by	Pramod Shirwalkar
Succeeded by	Prakash Phaterpekar
Constituency	Chembur
Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburban District
In office 2004–2009
Mayor of Mumbai
In office 1992–1993
Preceded by	Diwakar Raote
Succeeded by	R. R. Singh
Personal details
Born	(1957-03-13) 13 March 1957 (age 68) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Political party	Republican Party of India, Indian National Congress
Education	B.A.
Occupation	Legislator, social activist

Handore is former cabinet minister for Social Justice of the Government of Maharashtra. He was elected Mayor of Mumbai for the period 1992 to 1993.^[7] Handore was a vice President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee for the period 2014 to 2021. Since 2020, he is also the in charge of the Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee. Handore is the founder and president of the "Bhim Shakti" (tran: The "Bhim's power" or "Ambedkar's power"), an Ambedkarite and socio-political organization.^[8][9][10]

Personal life

Chandrakant Handore in a party event

Chandrakant Handore was born on March 13, 1957, into a Dalit Buddhist family in Mumbai. His mother's name is Hausabai and father's name is Damodhar Handore. He is married to Mrs Sangita Handore, she is the current corporator of 125 Chembur, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. They have five daughters Runita, Sonal, Prajyoti, Nikita and Priyanka, and a son Ganesh. Chandrakant Handore's family, inspired by B. R. Ambedkar, follows Buddhism.^[11][12]

Positions held

• 1985 - 1992: Corporator: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
• 1992-1993: Chairperson: Mayor Council Of Maharashtra
• 1992 – 1993 : Mayor of Mumbai (RPI)^[7]
• 2004 – 2009: Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (1st term)^[13][14]
• 2004 – 2009 : Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra (INC)
• 2008 – 2009 : Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburban district^[15]
• 2009 – 2014: Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (2nd term)^[13][14]
• 2014 - 2021 : vice president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee
• December 2020 - current : In charge of the Mumbai Pradesh Congress
• Former General Secretary Of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee
• Former General Secretary Of Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee
• 5 February 2021- Current : Working President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee
• November 2023 - Current : Permanent Invitee of the Congress Working Committee^[1]
• 2024 - Current : Member of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the parliament of India