Munde got involved in politics during his student days and was part of the ABVP and Jan Sangh. He later went on to head the Maharashtra BJP. Munde controls several sugar factories in the Marathwada region.
Munde, who was the Deputy Leader of Opposition in 15th Lok Sabha, won this time despite NCP chief Sharad Pawar making the Beed seat a prestige issue.
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 other youngsters including Pramod Mahajan.
Munde was born in Parali, Maharashtra, on 12 December 1949, to Pandurang Munde and Limbabai Munde in a middle class Vanjari (caste) farmer's family. Munde's wife Pradnya is sister of Pramod Mahajan.
