Munde blues

Just months into its tenure, the Fadnavis government suffers multiple blows

-  DNYANESH JATHAR

The DEVENDRA FADNAVIS-led Maha Yuti government in Mahar- ashtra suffered its first major setback with the resignation of Dhananjay Munde as food and civil supplies minister. Munde stepped down on March 4, as the assembly began its budget session.

Just a day earlier, Munde was seen at the customary tea party hosted by the chief minister, mingling with his cabinent colleagues, unaware of what lay ahead. It is learnt that Fadnavis met his deputy Ajit Pawar, and delivered an ultimatum: Munde, who belonged to Pawar's NCP, must either resign or face dismissal.

The tipping point was the viral photos that showed the brutal torture and murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, allegedly by Munde's men, in Beed, his home district, on December 9. One particu- larly shocking image was of a goon urinating on Deshmukh's face after his murder.

Munde's close aide Walmik Karad had already been under arrest for attempting to extort Avaada Energy, a company that has a wind energy project in Massajog. Deshmukh had opposed the extortion bid, which allegedly led to his murder. Deshmukh's family and civil society groups have been demanding that Munde should be named co-accused in the murder case. But Munde has denied any involvement, calling for strict action against all accused, including Karad.