Jambuwantrao Dhote

Jambhuwantrao Bapurao Dhote (1939 – 18 February 2017) was an Indian politician. Known by his supporters as The Lion of Vidharbha & He is son-in-law of veteran Congress leader late Ramrao Adik.

Dhote left Congress soon, and founded Vidharbha Janta Congress (VJC) Party on 9 September 2002. He was elected to Maharashtra Assembly 5 times. He was elected from Yavatmal in 1962 and 1967 elections as a Forward Bloc candidate, and in 1978 as Congress member.

He was Member of Parliament from Nagpur (Lok Sabha constituency) in 1971 to 5th Lok Sabha, defeating his Congress rival. When Indira Gandhi split Congress in January 1978, he joined her Congress(I) party. He was elected for second time from Nagpur in 1980 to 7th Lok Sabha as a Congress candidate.

He died on 18 February 2017 due to a heart attack in Yavatmal. He can be remembered as the only 'mass leader' of Vidarbha to date.