Brother-in-law of slain BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, Gopinath Munde hails from a poor family in the backward Marathwada region and was brought into politics by the late BJP leader Vasantrao Bhagwat, who also groomed several others including Pramod Mahajan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the BJP leadership had handpicked Munde to lead the party's campaign in the state where assembly polls are due in four months.

Munde, who was the Deputy Leader of Opposition in 15th Lok Sabha, won the Lok Sabha polls this time despite Pawar making the Beed seat a prestige issue.

He also served as general secretary of the party at the national level and as Chairman of the Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers in the outgoing Lok Sabha.

Pic: The Niticentral tribute to Gopinath Munde