Mumbai, May 30 (IANS): Hailing from a well-known political/farming family of Akola in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, Sanjay S. Dhotre, who was sworn-in as a minister in the Narendra Modi government on Thursday, began his political career as an anti-Emergency activist.

Beginning his electoral foray in 1999 when he was elected an MLA on a BJP ticket from Murtizapur (Akola), he then turned his sight to the Lok Sabha where he has been a member since 2004. And it is in fourth term, he has become a minister in Modi's second term.

Along with his political career, Dhotre, 60, had - a quarter of century ago - joined hands with prominent farmers activist and Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti chief Kishore Tiwari to espouse the cause of the debt-hit peasants who were resorting to suicides.

Himself being an agriculturist-cum-industrialist who takes keen interest in scientific advancements in cultivation and crop developments, Dhotre has been passionate for the welfare of the farming community and Tiwari is confident that with his presence in the Union Cabinet, now the farmers will truly get their dues.

Dhotre also becomes the second minister from the Vidarbha region - besides heavyweight Nitin Gadkari - in the Central government, which is expected to give an impetus to the development of the region, besides giving advantage to the BJP in the October 2019 Assembly elections.

Known to have close links with the Art of Living Foundation, his entry to the cabinet reportedly has blessings of the renowned spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.