Mumbai: Even as the pressure mounts on Beed's minister Dhananjay Munde to resign in the Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's murder case, his party, the NCP, has adopted a 'wait-and-see' approach until the inquiry concludes.
NCP leader Jitendra Awhad claimed that Deshmukh's murder stemmed from a dispute over a Rs 2 crore election fund.
BJP MLA Suresh Dhas accused Karad of orchestrating administrative officer transfers in Beed with the alleged backing of Munde, who, according to Dhas, had granted Karad power of attorney for such decisions. Dhas stated that Munde should remain in the Maharashtra cabinet as a minister without portfolio until a chargesheet is filed in the murder case of Deshmukh.
Congress MP Praniti Shinde echoed the demand for Munde’s resignation, citing past instances where ministers in the MVA government stepped down over allegations to uphold moral accountability.
NCP MP Supriya Sule highlighted a precedent set by former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who resigned amid serious allegations. “The chief minister and his cabinet should act responsibly without being reminded of what ethical governance entails,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the murder of Deshmukh, has gained momentum, with both CID and SIT teams delving deeper into the case. Key associates of Valmik Karad, a suspect in a major extortion racket, are now under scrutiny.
NCP mum on Munde’s future
While NCP leaders remain tight-lipped about Munde’s future, state party president Sunil Tatkare has demanded swift and decisive action against those involved in Deshmukh’s murder. “The SIT investigation is ongoing, and we await its findings before making any decision,” Tatkare said.
Meanwhile, Awhad on Friday objected to a policeman recording his press conference, and detained him briefly while accusing the BJP-led Maharashtra government of surveillance of the Opposition. “Instead of monitoring me, they should focus on Valmik Karad,” he said.
