Anil Parab
Anil Vijaya Dattatray Parab (born c. 1965) is an Indian politician, advocate, and longtime member of the Shiv Sena party, currently aligned with its Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction. Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council from the Mumbai Graduates constituency in multiple terms since 2012, he held cabinet positions as Minister for Transport, Parliamentary Affairs, and Guardian Minister for Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg district during the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government from 2019 to 2022.[1][2] Parab's political ascent began in the Shiv Sena's student organization, Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, evolving from a background in cable distribution and consulting into a key party operative and spokesperson, particularly noted for his proximity to Uddhav Thackeray amid the 2022 Shiv Sena split.[3] His tenure involved advocating for infrastructure policies in transport, though it ended with the coalition's collapse. Parab remains active as a vocal critic of rival factions and government figures in the legislative council.[1] He has encountered legal challenges, including a 2022 Enforcement Directorate investigation into alleged money laundering tied to irregularities in a Dapoli resort construction project, where chargesheets cite forged documents and proceeds of crime exceeding ₹3 crore, though no conviction has resulted to date. Additionally, in 2023, Parab and associates faced charges for assaulting and intimidating a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officer over a development dispute, with formal charges framed by a Mumbai court in October 2025.[4][5][6]Early life and education
Family and upbringing
Anil Parab was born in 1965 as the son of Dattatray Vithal Parab.[7][1] He was raised in Bandra East, Mumbai, in proximity to the residence of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.[8] From his childhood, Parab maintained associations with senior Shiv Sena figures owing to his family's location in the same neighborhood.[8] He was mentored early on by Shiv Sena leader Madhukar Sarpotdar, a fellow Bandra East resident who identified his potential within the party's ecosystem.[9] This environment fostered his initial exposure to regional politics, though specific details on his parents' professions or siblings remain undocumented in public records.Academic background and early activism
Parab received legal training, qualifying him as a lawyer, which later supported Shiv Sena's legal strategies and his advisory roles within the party.[10][3] His early activism centered on student politics, where he engaged actively with the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS), Shiv Sena's student wing, during his college years.[8][9][11] This involvement introduced him to party networks under leaders like Raj Thackeray, who headed BVS at the time.[3] Parab's mentorship under Shiv Sena veteran Madhukar Sarpotdar in Mumbai's Bandra East area propelled his grassroots efforts, including participation in protests that drew support from Bal Thackeray as early as the 1980s.[10][12] These activities laid the foundation for his transition from student organizing to broader party mobilization, emphasizing local issues in urban Mumbai.[9]Political career
Entry into Shiv Sena and initial roles
Anil Parab began his association with Shiv Sena through its student wing, the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS), during his college years in the 1990s, where he actively participated in organizational activities.[3][8] This early involvement marked his entry into the party's grassroots activism, focusing on youth mobilization and local issues in Mumbai.[9] Prior to formal electoral roles, Parab also engaged with trade unions and community groups, leveraging his background as a cable operator to build networks in urban Mumbai.[8] His initial formal political role came with election to the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 2004 from the Mumbai Graduates constituency, representing educated urban voters aligned with Shiv Sena's regionalist agenda.[13] As a first-term MLC, Parab focused on constituency-specific concerns such as education and professional interests, while contributing to party strategy from behind the scenes, including coordination during early alliance negotiations.[14] By 2011, following the end of his initial term, he had established himself as a dedicated party worker, challenging electoral irregularities in court to safeguard Shiv Sena's legislative presence.[15] Parab's early roles emphasized organizational acumen over public-facing positions, including support for Shiv Sena's campaigns in Mumbai's civic and state elections, where he handled logistics and voter outreach for the graduates' segment.[16] This groundwork positioned him as a reliable operative close to party leadership, though he remained relatively low-profile until re-election in subsequent cycles.[11]Electoral and legislative positions
Anil Parab entered the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 2004, securing election from the Mumbai Graduates constituency as a Shiv Sena nominee.[13] He was re-elected in 2012 to the Council through the seats nominated by members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLAs).[17] Parab won a third term in 2018 via the same MLA-elected process, submitting his affidavit on June 26, 2018.[7] In 2017, following the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance breakdown ahead of Mumbai civic polls, Parab was appointed floor leader (group leader) for Shiv Sena in the Legislative Council, a role that elevated his influence within the party's legislative strategy.[2] Parab contested and won the Mumbai Graduates constituency again in the biennial Legislative Council election held on June 26, 2024, representing Shiv Sena (UBT; results declared on July 1 showed him defeating BJP candidate Kiran Shelar with a margin reflecting strong graduate voter support in Mumbai.[18][19] This victory retained the seat for the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance amid competitive polling for four Council seats.[20]| Year | Election Type/Constituency | Party | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Mumbai Graduates (Graduates' Constituency) | Shiv Sena | Won |
| 2012 | Elected by MLAs | Shiv Sena | Won |
| 2018 | Elected by MLAs | Shiv Sena | Won |
| 2024 | Mumbai Graduates (Graduates' Constituency) | Shiv Sena (UBT) | Won |