GADCHIROLI

Often referred to as the “Lungs of Maharashtra” for housing 33% of the state’s forest cover, Gadchiroli district has a rich historical legacy, having been ruled by various dynasties including the Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, Yadavas, and Gonds. The region was originally part of the Central Provinces until 1956, when, following the reorganization of states, Chandrapur (which included present-day Gadchiroli) was transferred to Bombay State. In 1960, with the formation of Maharashtra, Chandrapur became a district of the new state. Later, on 26 August 1982, Gadchiroli taluka was carved out of Chandrapur to form an independent district.

The Gadchiroli district consists of the joint Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha constituency, which includes the following Vidhan Sabha segments:

The Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha constituency was constituted only in the latest delimitation round – the first delimitation to happen after the formation of the district. Before that, the district was most likely represented by the Lok Sabha constituencies of Chandrapur district.

Within the Vidhan Parishad, the Gadchiroli District is represented by Wardha-Chandrapur-Gadhchiroli Local Bodies Authorities Constituency, the Nagpur Teachers’ Constituency, and the Nagpur Graduates Constituency. The Graduates and Teachers’ Constituencies are based on the administrative divisions of Maharashtra.

The given maps provide an overview of the boundaries of the Gadchiroli district and the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha Constituencies that fall within and around it.

Based on records from the delimitation reports by the Election Commission, the given chart provides an overview of the changes that have occurred in the composition of the Gadchiroli Lok Sabha constituency and the reshuffling of the Vidhan Sabha constituencies with every delimitation that has been done.

The following is the current Member of Parliament (MP) representing Gadchiroli district in the Lok Sabha, as of 2024:

The following are the current Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) representing constituencies in Gadchiroli and adjoining areas that fall within the administrative or political influence of the district, as of 2024:

There is no member from the Gadchiroli district currently in the Rajya Sabha representing Maharashtra.

The district is under the political oversight of two Guardian Ministers: Devendra Fadnavis and Ashish Jaiswal, both from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The following table lists the current Members of the Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad representing Gadchiroli district through various constituencies, as of 2024:

The following are the key administrative heads of Gadchiroli district, as of 2024:

There are 11 Urban Local Bodies in the Gadchiroli District: 3 Nagar Parishad, 8 Nagar Panchayat. There are 458 Gram Panchayats and 12 Panchayat Samiti. As of 2023, the district does not have a municipal corporation.

Gadchiroli district was carved out on the 26th of August 1982 by the division of the erstwhile Chandrapur district. Gadchiroli district has a total of 12 Panchayat Samitis comprising 457 Gram Panchayats.

Gadchiroli district has several municipal councils (Nagar Parishads) that serve as urban local governance bodies. These include Armori Nagar Parishad, Desaiganj (Wadsa) Nagar Parishad, and Gadchiroli Nagar Parishad.

The district also has eight Nagar Panchayats or town councils which function as local administrative units in semi-urban areas. These are the Aheri Nagar Panchayat, Bhamragad Nagar Panchayat, Chamorshi Nagar Panchayat, Dhanora Nagar Panchayat, Etapalli Nagar Panchayat, Kurkheda Nagar Panchayat, Mulchera Nagar Panchayat, and Sironcha Nagar Panchayat.

Since the early 2000s, Gadchiroli district has seen a rise in Naxalite activity. The Naxalite movement in Maharashtra, particularly in districts like Gondia, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Bhandara, Nanded, and Yavatmal, is largely fueled by the spillover of conflicts from neighboring states such as Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana. Factors like poor governance, widespread corruption, and dissatisfaction among indigenous communities have further aggravated the situation. Naxalites also observe the Naxal Martyrs Week from July 28 to August 3. There have been instances where civilians, suspected of being police informers, have been targeted by Naxalites, such as the case of Jairam Gawade in July 2024. The Indian armed forces have been actively working to dismantle the movement in the district. In one of the most recent encounters, 12 Maoists were killed by the C-60, a specialized anti-guerilla unit of the Maharashtra Police, on 18 July. At the moment, there are a large number of Naxalites who are surrendering to the State Government.

Iron ore mining in Damkondawahi and Surjagarh has caused severe disruptions for villagers, mainly from the Madia community, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). The mining has polluted freshwater sources, turning them red and unfit for consumption, while debris has ruined agricultural lands.

Protests arose when the Gram Sabha gave environmental clearance for a private steel company to expand mining operations from 3 to 10 million tonnes annually, without consulting the villagers. This expansion infringes on land granted to indigenous communities under the Forest Rights Act of 2006. Activists like Adv Lalsu Nogoti, a local advocate, have been guiding villagers about legal rights and issues, helping them understand the complex laws surrounding the mining projects. Through meetings, they explain these laws in simple terms, empowering the community in their resistance against the encroachment.