Pratap Sarnaik: From Humble Beginnings to Maharashtra's Controversial Transport Minister
Pratap Sarnaik, the current Transport Minister of Maharashtra, has been at the center of numerous controversies. From his early struggles to his rise in politics, this article delves into the life and career of this influential figure.
Pratap SarnaikMaharashtraShiv SenaTransport MinisterControversiesReal Estate MaharashtraAug 09, 2025
Sarnaik, 61, was born in Thane’s Dombivli. His father, Baburao Sarnaik, worked with a Marathi daily named Maratha, and his mother was a school teacher. Growing up in a family that struggled to make ends meet, Sarnaik had to work from a young age. He sold incense sticks and calendars, ran an omelette cart, and even drove an autorickshaw in Thane to support his family.
Eventually, Sarnaik joined the real estate sector through the Vihang Group and later expanded into the hospitality sector. His political career began in the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), where he served as a corporator in the Thane Municipal Corporation for three terms. In 2008, dissatisfied with not being given the post of Leader of Opposition in the civic body, he joined the Shiv Sena.
That same year, Sarnaik made headlines for gifting Ajit Pawar a diamond-studded mobile phone. In 2009, he won the newly created Ovala–Majiwada Assembly seat and has retained it in every election since 2014, 2019, and 2024. Over the years, Sarnaik has gained a reputation as a strongman in Thane politics and is closely aligned with Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
In 2020, Sarnaik’s name came up in an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into a money laundering case linked to a firm named Topsgrup Services and Solutions Ltd. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police later closed the case in 2022 after the Shinde-led Mahayuti government was formed.
While the probe was ongoing, Sarnaik became a vocal advocate for a Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, urging the then united Sena chief and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to sever ties with his Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners Congress and NCP. In June 2021, in a letter to Uddhav, Sarnaik wrote that the Sena should unite with the BJP to “save Sena leaders from harassment” by central agencies. He claimed that such a move would end the alleged “harassment” faced by him and other leaders from various agencies.
His call for a shift to the BJP is said to be one of many factors leading to the split in the Shiv Sena, with Sarnaik emerging as a key supporter of the Shinde faction. In June 2022, when Shinde revolted against Thackeray, Sarnaik was one of the first MLAs to join the Shinde camp and was instrumental in his rebellion.
After the Shinde–BJP government was formed, Sarnaik had to wait before being given a ministerial berth. He finally became Transport Minister in December 2024 after the Mahayuti’s return to power by winning the Assembly polls. However, his tenure has already seen several controversies.
In February this year, he visited the Congress-ruled Karnataka to study KSRTC’s premium bus services. Days later, IAS officer Sanjay Sethi was appointed chairman of the state-run MSRTC—a post usually held by political appointees. The move was seen as a signal from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that Sarnaik’s style of functioning and his visit to Karnataka had not gone down well.
In May, Sarnaik announced a decision to scrap a Rs 10,000-crore electric bus contract with Olectra–Evey Trans, stating that the company was not sticking to the deadline of delivering the bus supplies. A day later, he took a U-turn, announcing that he has directed the company to stick to a new delivery schedule despite past performance issues.
In July, he said that fare concessions given to women and senior citizens during the Shinde-led government resulted in a loss of Rs 3 crore a day to the transport department. In January, he described Hindi as “Mumbai’s spoken language” and “a beloved sister” of Marathi, a remark that drew criticism from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), who accused him of compromising Marathi pride for politics.
Sarnaik is also known for his organization, Sanskriti Yuva Pratishthan, which organizes cultural events. One of these annual events is the Pro-Govinda League, the dahi handi competition that is at the center of the latest row involving his son Purvesh Sarnaik.
On July 2, in a widely publicised operation, Sarnaik had “caught” a Rapido bike taxi near the Mantralaya junction in Mumbai. He also booked a ride on the app using a random name to confirm public complaints about unauthorised bike taxi services. Sarnaik then announced action against Rapido for operating in Mumbai “without permission”. His department launched raids and confiscated 78 bike taxis operating for Rapido.
However, on Thursday, the same bike taxi aggregator emerged as the main sponsor of this year’s Pro-Govinda League, which is organised by Purvesh in Mumbai. Sarnaik and his son have denied the allegations of wrongdoing. “I had taken action against the company on July 2, whereas the sponsorship was given on May 26. I fearlessly took action against the company that was sponsoring the event organised by my son Purvesh Sarnaik. Instead of praising the action, some people are opposing it for the sake of it,” the minister said.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pratap Sarnaik?
Pratap Baburao Sarnaik is the current Transport Minister of Maharashtra and a prominent leader of the Shiv Sena. He has a background in real estate and hospitality and has been involved in politics for several years.
What is the latest controversy involving Pratap Sarnaik?
The latest controversy involves Pratap Sarnaik taking action against the bike taxi aggregator Rapido, only to have the same company sponsor a dahi-handi event organized by his son, Purvesh Sarnaik.
How did Pratap Sarnaik start his political career?
Pratap Sarnaik began his political career in the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) as a corporator in the Thane Municipal Corporation. He later joined the Shiv Sena in 2008.
What are some of the controversies during Sarnaik's tenure as Transport Minister?
Controversies during Sarnaik's tenure include his actions against the bike taxi aggregator Rapido, a U-turn on scrapping a Rs 10,000-crore electric bus contract, and his remarks about Hindi being a 'beloved sister' of Marathi.
What is the Pro-Govinda League?
The Pro-Govinda League is an annual dahi handi competition organized by Sarnaik's organization, Sanskriti Yuva Pratishthan. It is currently at the center of the latest controversy involving Sarnaik and Rapido.
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