{{Short description|Indian politician (born 1977)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Rahul Narwekar.jpeg | image_size = 220px | caption = Narwekar in 2023 | office = Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly | term_start = 3 July 2022 | term_end = | predecessor = Nana Patole<br>Narhari Sitaram Zirwal {{small|(acting)}} | successor = | governor = Bhagat Singh Koshyari<br>Ramesh Bais<br>C. P. Radhakrishnan<br>Acharya Devvrat<br>Jishnu Dev Varma | deputy = Narhari Sitaram Zirwal<br/>Anna Bansode | office1 = Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly | term_start1 = 2019 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = Raj K. Purohit | successor1 = | constituency1 = Colaba | office2 = Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council | term_start2 = 10 June 2014 | term_end2 = 2019 | constituency2 = ''Nominated by the Governor'' | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1977|02|11}} | birth_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India | party = Bharatiya Janata Party {{small|(since 2019)}} | other_party = Nationalist Congress Party {{small|(2014–2019)}}<br/>Shiv Sena {{small|(till 2014)}} | spouse = {{marriage|Sarojini Naik Nimbalkar|2012}} | children = 2 daughters | education = Bachelor of Commerce<br/>Bachelor of Law | occupation = {{hlist|Lawyer|politician}} | website = {{URL|https://rahulnarwekar.com/}} }} '''Rahul Narwekar''' (born 11 February 1977) is an Indian politician and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is currently the MLA from the Colaba Assembly constituency and also the current 16th Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly since 2022. Narwekar was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council in June 2016 as a Governor's Nominated member. He is the second-youngest (aged 44) person to be elected speaker of any state in the country, the youngest being Shivraj Patil (aged 42).<ref name="Who is Rahul Narwekar, the newly elected Maharashtra assembly speaker?">{{cite news |title=Who is Rahul Narwekar, the newly elected Maharashtra assembly speaker? |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/who-is-rahul-narvekar-the-newly-elected-maharashtra-assembly-speaker |access-date=3 July 2022 |work= |date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703110747/https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/who-is-rahul-narvekar-the-newly-elected-maharashtra-assembly-speaker |archive-date=3 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="BJP's Rahul Narvekar elected Maharashtra Assembly Speaker">{{cite news |last1=The Economic Times |title=BJP's Rahul Narvekar elected Maharashtra Assembly Speaker |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/bjps-rahul-narvekar-elected-maharashtra-assembly-speaker/articleshow/92630134.cms |access-date=3 July 2022 |date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703110858/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/bjps-rahul-narvekar-elected-maharashtra-assembly-speaker/articleshow/92630134.cms |archive-date=3 July 2022}}</ref> In May 2023, he completed a 4-day UK tour speaking at the Ideas for India Conference organised by Bridge India in London,<ref>{{cite web |last1=India |first1=Bridge |title=Bridge India |url=https://www.bridgeindia.org.uk/event/ideas-for-india-2023/ |website=bridgeindia.org.uk |publisher=Bridge India |access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref> and speaking with students at Cambridge University. His tour attracted media attention<ref>{{cite web |first1=|title=Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to leave on 4-day UK tour. |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/maharashtra-legislative-assembly-speaker-rahul-narwekar-to-leave-on-4-day-uk-tour/articleshow/100114843.cms?from=mdr |website=Times of India |publisher=Times of India |access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Difficult to set firm timeframe but will try to resolve matters at the earliest: Maha Speaker on SC verdict |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/difficult-to-set-firm-timeframe-but-will-try-to-resolve-matters-at-the-earliest-maharashtra-speaker-on-sc-verdict-1218422.html |website=deccanherald.com |publisher=Deccan Herald |access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title="Difficult To Set Time Frame As...": Maharashtra Speaker After Big Supreme Court Order |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/difficult-to-set-time-frame-as-maharashtra-speaker-after-big-supreme-court-order-4031543 |website=NDTV.com |publisher=NDTV |access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A day before SC judgement, Narwekar leaves for London saying govt is stable |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-news/pune-speaker-confident-of-maharashtra-government-s-majority-ahead-of-sc-verdict-on-shiv-sena-mlas-disqualification-101683736757293.html |website=hindustantimes.com |publisher=Hindustan Times}}</ref> because of its proximity to the Supreme Court judgement on the disqualification of 16 MLAs of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitra |first1=Anwesha |title=Back Maharashtra politics: What happens if 16 Shiv Sena MLAs are really disqualified? |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/maharashtra-politics-what-happens-if-16-shiv-sena-mlas-are-disqualified-11684247757547.html |website=livemint.com |publisher=Livemint |access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref> In November 2024 he was re-elected on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Colaba constituency and won by a huge margin.
== Personal life == Rahul Narwekar is the son-in-law of senior NCP leader Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar. Rahul's father, Suresh Narwekar was a Municipal Councillor from the Colaba area. Rahul's brother Makarand Narwekar is a second-term Municipal Councillor, currently from Ward No. 227.<ref>[http://www.afternoondc.in/city-news/rahul-narvekar-opts-out-of-mlc-poll-fray-goes-incommunicado/article_105357 Rahul Narwekar opts out of MLC poll fray, goes incommunicado]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/shiv-sena-leader-rahul-narvekar-joins-ncp-554204 Shiv Sena leader Rahul Narwekar joins NCP]</ref><ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/shiv-sena-leader-rahul-narvekar-joins-ncp-to-contest-from-maval-554227 Shiv Sena leader Rahul Narwekar joins NCP, to contest from Maval]</ref><ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-rahul-narvekar-says-he-was-victimised-by-shiv-sena-defects-to-ncp-1970084 Rahul Narwekar says he was victimised by Shiv Sena, defects to NCP]</ref><ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-shiv-sena-leader-rahul-narvekar-joins-ncp-gets-ticket-from-maval-1970071 Shiv Sena leader Rahul Narwekar joins NCP, gets ticket from Maval]</ref><ref>[http://www.myneta.info/ls2014/candidate.php?candidate_id=3355 My Neta]</ref> His sister-in-law Harshita Narwekar is also a Municipal Councillor on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket from the Cuffe Parade area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Independent Corporator Joins BJP In Mumbai|date=31 Jan 2017|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/independent-corporator-joins-bjp-in-mumbai/articleshow/56897353.cms}}</ref>
==Political career== Narwekar began his political career with the Shiv Sena party, where he served as a spokesperson for the youth wing. After 15 years with the Shiv Sena, Narwekar left the party in 2014 when he was denied a ticket for the Lok Sabha election.<ref>{{cite web |title=Here's all you need to know about Rahul Narvekar, Maharashtra Assembly's newly elected Speaker |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-rahul-narvekar-maharashtra-assemblys-newly-elected-speaker/articleshow/92630499.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=2022-07-03 |access-date=2024-07-03}}</ref> He then joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from the Maval constituency but was unsuccessful. In June 2016, Narwekar was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council as a Governor's Nominated member.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who is Rahul Narwekar? BJP Leader Who Became Maharashtra Speaker After Shiv Sena Split |url=https://news.abplive.com/states/who-is-rahul-narwekar-bjp-leader-who-became-maharashtra-speaker-after-shiv-sena-split-1655700 |website=ABP Live |date=2024-01-10 |access-date=2024-07-03}}</ref> In 2019, Narwekar switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and successfully contested the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election from the Colaba constituency, winning by 16,195 votes (57,420 total votes in his favour).<ref>{{cite web |title=Who is Rahul Narwekar? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/maharashtra-speaker-rahul-narwekar-shiv-sena-verdict-9102978/ |website=The Indian Express |date=2024-01-10 |access-date=2024-07-03}}</ref> On July 3, 2022, Narwekar was elected as the Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. At the age of 45, he became the youngest person to be elected as Speaker of any state legislature in India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who is Rahul Narwekar, newly elected Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/maharashtra-political-crisis-rahul-narwekar-assembly-speaker-eknath-shinde-shiv-sena-bjp-1969667-2022-07-03 |website=India Today |date=2022-07-03 |access-date=2024-07-03}}</ref> In May 2023, Narwekar was tasked by the Supreme Court of India with deciding on the disqualification petitions of 34 MLAs from the two factions of Shiv Sena that emerged after the party split in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Supreme Court extends deadline for Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar to decide disqualification pleas against NCP breakaway MLAs to February 15 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-extends-deadline-for-maharashtra-speaker-rahul-narwekar-to-decide-disqualification-pleas-against-ncp-breakaway-mlas-to-february-15/article67788278.ece |website=The Hindu |date=2024-01-29 |access-date=2024-07-03}}</ref> In November 2024, he was re-elected as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Colaba constituency, winning by a massive margin of 48,581 votes totalling 68.49% vote share (81,085 votes) of all votes polled (1,18,389).<ref>https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultAcGenNov2024/ConstituencywiseS13187.htm</ref> He was also re appointed the speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
{| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Party !! Position/Event |- | 1999–2014 || 30x30pxShiv Sena || Spokesperson for youth wing |- | 2014 || 30px Nationalist Congress Party || Joined NCP after being denied Lok Sabha ticket by Shiv Sena |- | 2014 || 30px Nationalist Congress Party || Unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha election from Maval constituency |- | 2016 || 30px Nationalist Congress Party || Elected to Maharashtra Legislative Council as Governor's Nominated member |- | 2019 || 30x30pxBharatiya Janata Party || Joined BJP |- | 2019 || 30x30px Bharatiya Janata Party || Elected as MLA from Colaba |- | 2022 || 30x30px Bharatiya Janata Party || Elected as Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly |- | 2023 || 30x30px Bharatiya Janata Party || Tasked by Supreme Court to decide on disqualification petitions of Shiv Sena MLAs |- | 2024 || 30x30px Bharatiya Janata Party || Re-elected as MLA from Colaba Re-elected as Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly |}
== See also ==
== References == {{reflist}} {{Current Indian legislative speakers and chairmen}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narwekar, Rahul}} Category:Living people Category:Members of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Category:Shiv Sena politicians Category:Nationalist Congress Party politicians from Maharashtra Category:Politicians from Mumbai Category:1970 births Category:Marathi politicians Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Maharashtra Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2019–2024 Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2024–2029