Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar

Early Career (1980–1998)

Wadettiwar began his political journey in 1980–81 as a grassroots worker with the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Indian National Congress. From 1991 to 1993, he served as a Member of the Zilla Parishad, Gadchiroli. In 1996, he was appointed Chairman of the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), a position he held until 1998.

Maharashtra Legislative Council (1998–2004)

From 1998 to 2004, Wadettiwar served as a Member of the [[Maharashtra Legislative Council]] representing the Wardha-Chandrapur-Gadchiroli Local Authorities constituency.

Member of Legislative Assembly – Chimur (2004–2014)

In the 2004 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, Wadettiwar was elected MLA from the Chimur constituency on a Shiv Sena ticket. He later left Shiv Sena and rejoined the Indian National Congress. He was re-elected from Chimur in the 2006 by-election as a Congress candidate and again in 2009 with a massive margin of 30,500 votes.

Minister of State (2008–2010)

Following the 2008 elections, Wadettiwar was appointed Minister of State in the First Ashok Chavan ministry (December 2008 – November 2009), holding portfolios of Water Resources, Tribal Development, Environment & Climate, and Forests. He also served as Guardian Minister of Chandrapur District during this period.

In the Second Ashok Chavan ministry (November 2009 – November 2010), he continued as Minister of State for Water Resources, Parliamentary Affairs, Finance, Planning, and Energy, and served as Guardian Minister of Dhule District.

Member of Legislative Assembly – Bramhapuri (2014–present)

In 2014, Wadettiwar contested from the Bramhapuri constituency on a Congress ticket and won by 15,000 votes — a historic victory as the constituency had been represented by BJP or Independent MLAs for 34 consecutive years (1980–2014). He was re-elected in 2019 and again in 2024, defeating BJP's Krishnalal Bajirao Sahare by a margin of 13,971 votes with a vote share of 50.93%.

Cabinet Minister – Uddhav Thackeray Government (2019–2022)

From 30 December 2019 to 29 June 2022, Wadettiwar served as a Cabinet Minister in the Uddhav Thackeray ministry, holding portfolios of:

• Disaster Management, Relief & Rehabilitation
• Other Backward Classes (OBC) Welfare
• Bahujan Welfare
• Vimukta Jati & Nomadic Tribes Welfare
• Backward Classes Welfare
• Khar Land Development
• Earthquake Rehabilitation
• Majority Welfare Development

Leader of the Opposition

Wadettiwar has served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly twice:

• First term: 24 June 2019 – 9 November 2019 (replacing Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil who had resigned and joined the BJP)
• Second term: 3 August 2023 – 26 November 2024 (replacing Ajit Pawar

after NCP split; during the Eknath Shinde government)

He was appointed the 21st Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by the Congress high command.

Minister of State

• 2008-2009: Minister of State for Irrigation, Tribal Welfare, Environment and Forest, in the Minister of Council headed by Ashok Chavan
• 2009-2010: Re-elected as M.L.A. from Chimur, constituency with a margin of 30,500 votes
• 2009-2010 Nov.: Minister of State for Irrigation, Energy, Finance & Planning Parliamentary Affairs, in the Ministry headed by Ashokrao Chavan

Corporation/Co-operative Movement

• 1996-1998: Chairman- FDCM i.e. Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (Undertaking)
• 2008-2011: Director of Maharashtra State Co-Operative Bank, Ltd., Maharashtra

Leader of the Opposition

• Leader of the Opposition, Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra 2023-2024^[1][2]