Bhujbal lashes out at Pawar, supports Munde

Leaders from all parties barring NCP meet governor, seek Munde's dismissal in interest of fair probe

- Faisal Malik

MUMBAI: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has chosen to stand firm with Dhananjay Munde, the NCP minister caught in a political firestorm over the murder of a Beed sarpanch in December last year. On Monday, Pawar, Nationalist Congress (NCP) party chief, was closeted with Munde for an hour in his office in the state secretariat, and in the evening, he drove to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's official residence at Malabar Hill, to discuss the rapidly unraveling situation with him.

Munde told the media that his resignation did not come up during the meeting, and that he met Pawar to apprise him of his plans for the food and civil supplies department that he heads. On the allegations against him, Munde said: "The government has appointed a CID SIT to probe the incident. Let the probe be completed. Why is there a media trial? The BJP MLA who is making allegations against me should ask the chief minister or their party chief first."

Munde is the MLA from Parli in Beed district. His close aide, Beed strongman Walmik Karad, has been arrested in an extortion case linked to the horrific murder of Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed. Deshmukh was tortured and killed, and his body tossed alongside a highway, allegedly because he foiled an attempt to extort money from a wind power company in his village.

His murder has opened a can of worms for the newly elected Mahayuti government as the chorus for Munde's dismissal grows louder. Four massive protests have been held in various parts of the state, the latest on Sunday in Pune, demanding 'justice for Deshmukh'. Significantly, the demand for Munde's dismissal has come from leaders of opposition as well ruling parties, except the NCP, an ally in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance government.