Mumbai: The second day of the continuing Maharashtra Meeting session noticed intense motion not simply exterior the Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai, but additionally in Beed district.
Earlier than the proceedings commenced Tuesday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis knowledgeable mediapersons of the resignation of state’s meals and civil provides minister, Nationalist Congress Celebration (Ajit Pawar) chief Dhananjay Munde, and stated that he had accepted it.
The transfer comes after Munde’s shut aide Walmik Karad was named as one of many ‘masterminds’ within the December 2024 homicide case of Santosh Deshmukh, a sarpanch in Beed’s Massajog village. Fadnavis stated that Munde had been relieved of his cost.
Karad has been accused of murdering Deshmukh for resisting an try of alleged extortion.
Munde is the NCP MLA from Parli constituency in Beed district, the place he wields important affect. He had been going through warmth for the reason that homicide with the Opposition, and even MLAs of the rulling alliance, demanding his resignation. Political consultants say regardless that the transfer might not destabilise the federal government, it’s going to influence Mahayuti’s picture to some extent.
The announcement quickly triggered a political storm with NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar slamming the federal government for not performing earlier than. Referring to the video clips & pictures of Deshmukh being tortured and murdered that surfaced on social media, Rohit stated that regardless that the images had come into circulation Monday, the chief minister and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar would have been conscious.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MLA Aaditya Thackeray questioned the federal government’s intent and demanded that your complete cupboard be dismissed. “This occurred in December earlier than the winter session. The Maha Vikas Aghadi has been demanding Munde’s resignation for a good and free trial. Even Bharatiya Janata Celebration leaders, like Suresh Dhas, had been asking for the resignation. However don’t know who had tied CM’s palms earlier.”
NCP (SP) chief Jayant Patil stated the MVA would transfer a breach of privilege discover in opposition to the Maharashtra authorities for not informing the legislature about Munde’s resignation, when the finances session is underway.
Munde submitted his resignation after his shut aide Karad was accused of murdering Deshmukh for resisting an try of alleged extortion.
Munde took to X Tuesday to say that for the reason that chargesheet within the Deshmukh homicide case is submitted within the courtroom and an investigation is pending, it could be higher if he stepped down. Nonetheless, Munde additionally cited medical causes for resigning.
बीड जिल्ह्यातील मस्साजोगचे स्व. संतोष देशमुख यांच्या निर्घृण हत्येतील आरोपींना कठोरात कठोर शिक्षा व्हावी, ही माझी पहिल्या दिवसापासूनची ठाम मागणी आहे. काल समोर आलेले फोटो पाहून तर मन अत्यंत व्यथित झाले.
या प्रकरणाचा तपास पूर्ण झाला असून आरोपपत्र न्यायालयात दाखल झाले आहे. तसेच,…
— Dhananjay Munde (@dhananjay_munde) March 4, 2025
“The images that got here out yesterday have disturbed me. To my thoughts, for the reason that judicial probe is pending, and even my well being just isn’t cooperating with me, on the suggestion of medical doctors, I selected to submit my resignation,” he wrote.
The Maharashtra Legal Investigation Division (CID) final week filed a chargesheet of greater than 1,200 pages within the Deshmukh homicide case and two different associated instances in a courtroom in Beed district.
In line with the preliminary FIR, the sarpanch had tried to cease an extortion bid in addition to hooliganism at Avaada Vitality’s wind energy plant in Beed’s Massajog village, resulting in his killing on 9 December, 2024.
Whereas seven individuals have been arrested, together with Karad, the principle accused, Krushna Andhale, stays at giant.
Within the pictures that had been circulated Monday, the accused are seen smiling, whereas torturing Deshmukh. Later, one of many accused is seen urinating on the physique.
A ‘bandh’ was noticed in elements of Beed Tuesday after the pictures surfaced on social media.
Additionally Learn: Dhananjay Munde: Ajit Pawar aide with chequered previous & now Mahayuti’s first casualty
‘Large blow to Mahayuti’s picture’
Munde is taken into account to share an in depth relationship with Ajit Pawar. After Deshmukh’s pictures and movies surfaced on-line, Fadnavis is reported to have held a gathering late Monday night time with Munde, the deputy chief minister, and senior NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel.
Though this is not going to destabilise the federal government, political analyst Prakash Akolkar informed ThePrint that this can be a large blow to the picture of Mahayuti authorities.
“The chief minister ought to have dismissed Munde earlier. Nevertheless it gained’t influence the federal government as such, and even the relations between BJP and NCP gained’t be that affected as a result of the chilly battle is between Fadnavis and Shinde, not with Ajit Pawar,” he stated. “Nonetheless, this can be a large black spot on Mahayuti. And since crime has been growing within the state, it additionally places the highlight on Fadnavis, who heads the house division.”
One other political skilled Abhay Deshpande informed ThePrint, “This can have an effect on notion and picture of the federal government as a result of a minister needed to resign even earlier than it accomplished 100 days.”
He added, “Maybe the federal government considered not looking for the resignation earlier and defending Munde as a result of they will need to have thought the problem would die down. However since there was steady stress from individuals inside the district, together with MLAs from ruling celebration. After the pictures got here out, it turned troublesome to guard him.”
Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, who had additionally been looking for Munde’s resignation, stated Tuesday that regardless of resigning, Munde has not apologised for what occurred.
“He ought to have resigned earlier than the chargesheet was filed. Even whereas resigning, his conceitedness has come by way of. It’s good, now even Marathas will know what Munde is. I demand that Munde be named a co-accused within the case,” Patil stated.
(Edited by Sudha V)
Additionally Learn: Amid Mahayuti discord, reward for Fadnavis from unlikely quarter: Sena (UBT) mouthpiece
