Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant, born on December 31, 1951, in Kumbhavade, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, is a prominent Indian politician affiliated with the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction). He holds a B.Sc. degree from Bhavan’s College, Mumbai, graduating in 1975. Before entering politics, he worked as an engineer for Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), which was instrumental in providing telecommunications in Mumbai and Delhi.
Sawant began his political career in 1968 as a “Gat Pramukh” in Shiv Sena. He became actively involved in local governance and labor rights through the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti, advocating for local employment. He was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 1996 and later served as the party’s deputy leader and spokesperson. His effective communication and defense of the party’s policies during times of criticism earned him recognition within the party and the public.
In the 2014 Indian general elections, Sawant made a significant mark by defeating Milind Deora of the Indian National Congress in the Mumbai South constituency by around 120,000 votes. He was re-elected in 2019 with a similar margin, after which he was appointed Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in the Modi cabinet. However, he resigned from this position in November 2019 due to internal conflicts within the Shiv Sena regarding alliances with the BJP
Throughout his career, Sawant has focused on labor rights, successfully negotiating wage agreements for MTNL employees and championing their pension rights without resorting to strikes. He has also been recognized for his oratory skills, receiving awards for his speeches in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
In his personal life, he is married to Anuya Arvind Sawant, and they have a son and a daughter. Besides politics, he enjoys reading, listening to music, particularly old Hindi and Marathi songs, and watching cricket.