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In the past few weeks, calls for Munde’s resignation have intensified, with opposition leaders attacking him on moral grounds. However, Munde claimed he is being deliberately targeted.
While there have been protests over the sarpanch murder demanding Munde’s resignation, Anjali Damania met Ajit Pawar and submitted documents related to the case. (Image: PTI)
Over 50 days have passed since the murder of Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, and Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde remains at the centre of a political storm. With his alleged links to the jailed accused, Valmik Karad, opposition parties have mounted pressure on him to step down. However, Munde claimed he is being deliberately targeted. In the past few weeks, calls for Munde’s resignation have intensified, with opposition leaders attacking him on moral grounds. As pressure mounted, he made an unexpected visit to Delhi, coinciding with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s presence in the capital. This sparked speculation that the fate of his ministerial position would be decided at the national level rather than in Mumbai.
During his Delhi visit, Munde met Union Minister Pralhad Joshi for a half-hour discussion. Joshi, a senior BJP leader from Karnataka, shares a historical political connection with the late Gopinath Munde, who once served as BJP’s Karnataka in-charge. The timing of this meeting raised eyebrows, with many interpreting it as Munde’s attempt to leverage old party ties to shield himself from resignation demands. Following the meeting, Munde made it clear that he had no intention of stepping down. He categorically stated that he was being unfairly targeted and would only resign if Chief Minister Fadnavis or Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar asked him to. This defiant stance has further fuelled the political debate.
While Munde remains firm on his decision, the opposition continues to question his credibility, arguing that he should step aside on moral grounds until his name is cleared. On the other hand, Munde and his supporters maintain that the allegations against him are politically motivated. Adding another twist, Ajit Pawar has tactfully shifted the resignation issue on to Fadnavis’s shoulders. During a closed-door meeting with NCP legislators last night, Munde presented his side of the story, reportedly stating that he was willing to resign if directed by the party leadership. He also alleged that certain individuals were making accusations against him due to personal vendetta.
Meanwhile, the controversy took a new turn when social activist Anjali Damania met Ajit Pawar and submitted documents related to the case. Pawar later informed party MLAs that these documents had been handed over to Chief Minister Fadnavis. As if Munde’s troubles weren’t already mounting, BJP MLA Suresh Dhas has now levelled fresh corruption allegations against him, further escalating tensions. With every passing day, the political heat surrounding the minister refuses to die down.
The key question now is whether Munde’s Delhi visit will help him hold on to his cabinet post or if the sustained pressure from both the opposition and within the government will force him to step aside. Will he make a bold move and resign voluntarily to clear his name, or will the government be compelled to take a call? As the situation unfolds, all eyes remain on the power corridors of Delhi and Mumbai, where the final decision on Munde’s future is expected to be made.
