Keshavrao Sonawane

Early life Keshavrao Sonavane was born in Mogarga of Ausa Taluka in the farmer's family. In 1957, Keshavrao ran for Bombay Legislative Assembly election from Latur Constituency and won the Bombay Legislative Assembly election by defeating Vithalrao Kelgaokar.

During his absence in Latur city while he was serving as a co-operative minister, opposition got stronger in the latur. because of this he had lost the assembly election from Latur Constituency in 1967 against socialist leader Bapu Kaldate.

Despite this huge setback, in 1972 he decided to stand for Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election from Ausa Constituency where he had very strong support in the form of his network of family members and relatives.

Elections contested

Notable works

Dalda Factory Dalda Factory was Asia's first oil mill set up on cooperative terms. Keshavrao was very actively involved in the establishment of Dalda Factory in Latur District. Dalda was major produce of the Latur region, for Dalda British Government had laid railway lines to Latur.

Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development & Regulation) Act, 1963 As a Co-operative minister of Maharashtra Keshavrao Sonawane created the draft of this Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) act for the welfare of farmers in Maharashtra. Before passing this law, every market committee was having its own rules, this law made all market committees in Maharashtra to have single central administrative law under state control. Agricultural produce market committee (APMC) is a marketing board established by a state government in India. APMC ensures that farmers are not exploited by any intermediaries like Dalals/Traders/commission agents who compel farmers to sell their produce at the farm gate for an extremely low price. This APMC act mandates that all food produce should first be brought to a market yard and then sold through auction. Earlier Latur was small town in the Osmanabad District.

Manikraoji Sonavane, elder brother of Keshavrao and chairman of market committee, convinced the farmers of Latur to contribute to this cause. Formerly Latur was in Osmanabad District. Keshavraoji Sonavane brought this Sugar factory for Osmanabad and Latur District's farmers. Currently terna has 3500 Tons of Cane per Day capacity.factory covers area of 3 talukas i.e. Osmanabad, Kallamb and Latur. This factory covers nearly 171 villages by area of operation. Latur DCC bank was developed during Keshavraoji's tenure in the government as Co-operative minister. Co-operative bank forms an integral part of banking system in India. By creating Latur DCC bank Keshavrao made a very positive impact on agricultural sector and especially on the farmers of Latur and Osmanabad District. Vilasrao Deshmukh and Shivraj Patil were also life members of District Bar Association, Latur.

In literature He was mentioned in books Uchalya (The Branded) by Laxman Gaikwad (1987), Yeravaḍā vidyāpīṭhātīla divasa by Kumāra Saptarshī and Māndiyāḷī by Ananta Bhālerāva (1994). Uchalya novel is an autobiographical account of the life of a stereotyped underdog but of a representative of a section of society thriving on petty crimes.