Ramchandra Dhondiba Bhandare

Ramchandra Dhondiba Bhandare (1916–1988) was an Indian politician, jurist and Ambedkarite activist. He was a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) political party, who was twice elected to Lok Sabha. When he was a child, the family moved to Bombay and settled there. After completing his primary education at Bhandare Uttara Worli Primary School and secondary education at Colabawadi, he attended the Maharashtra High School in Bombay.

Education

He completed his education from Elphinstone College, Government Law College and the Khalsa College, Bombay. He was married to Shakuntalabai and had 3 sons and 1 daughter and resided at Wadala Mumbai. He was earlier a Member of Bombay Municipal Corporation during 1948–57. He was a Member of Bombay Legislative Assembly during 1960–1962 and also acted as the Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during 1960–62. He was a Founder Member of Republican Party of India and remained its president from 1964 to 1966.

As a labor and Dalit leader

Ramchandra Bhandare was active in the trade unions and was secretary to the Kamgar Sangam of the Bombay Municipal Council from 1942 to 1945. From 1949 to 1952, Babasaheb chaired a low-level Rural Servants Association, headed by Ambedkar. From 1952 to 1954 he was vice-president of the Bombay Textile Workers Union.

Death

Bhandare died at his home in Bombay on September 5, 1988.