Minister of Tribal Affairs: Arjun Munda

Arjun Munda - Cabinet Minister of Government of India
Arjun Munda is a member of BJP and the longest-serving CM of Jharkhand over 5 years, across 3 terms.
Arjun Munda - Cabinet Minister of Government of India
Arjun Munda is a member of BJP and the longest-serving CM of Jharkhand over 5 years, across 3 terms.

Minister of Tribal Affairs (May 2019 – Present): Arjun Munda

Date of Birth: Munda was born on May 3, 1968.

Place of Birth: He was born at Khrangajhar in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. At the time he was born, Jamshedpur was part of Bihar state.

Parents: His mother is Saira Munda and his father is late Ganesh Munda. His family is said to be a religious one.

Spouse: He is married to Meera Munda.

Political Party: He is affiliated to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Education: Munda completed his high school in Jamshedpur, and later finished his graduation from the Ranchi University. After that he earned a PG (Postgraduate) diploma from the Indira Gandhi National Open University.

Career: Munda has been a politician throughout. He started his political career when he was a teenager in the early 1980s. At this time, he took part in the Jharkhand Movement that was being led by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

The main aim of the movement was to create a separate state of Jharkhand for the tribal people. It was to be carved out from the southern parts of Bihar. Munda happened to be an ardent believer when it came to the welfare of the indigenous people of the region. This was the reason why he took such a passionate part in this movement. Very soon, his inclusive philosophy led to the growth of his political influence and he was elected to the legislative assembly of Bihar from the Kharsawan constituency in 1995. He was elected on a JMM ticket.

At that time, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) strongly supported the cause of the formation of Jharkhand and it promised that if it were elected it would create the state. It was at this time that Munda got attracted to the philosophy of the BJP. It also helped that BJP was a supporter of the Jharkhand cause. In the year 2000 too, he was elected to the Bihar legislative assembly from his old constituency of Kharsawan on a BJP ticket. Incidentally, this was a constituency that he had been nurturing for a long period of time.

Political Milestones: On May 23, 2019, Munda became an MP (Member of Parliament) for Lok Sabha. He was elected from the Khunti constituency. Earlier, he has served as the Chief Minister (CM) of Jharkhand on 3 separate occasions, from March 18, 2003 to March 2, 2005; from March 12, 2005 to September 14, 2005; and from September 11, 2010 to January 8, 2013. On May 30, 2019, he became the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs. In 2009 too, he was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha from the Jamshedpur constituency, a prestigious one if it must be added.

He has also worked as the National General Secretary of BJP in what can be regarded as recognition of his credentials as a leader of the masses. This post can also be interpreted as recognition from BJP of the major contributions he has made in making the party stronger in the state.

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