Special Correspondent
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde to resign following the viral circulation of gruesome photos of the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district.
A high-level meeting took place on Monday night at Devgiri Bungalow, attended by Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare, and Dhananjay Munde. Following this meeting, Fadnavis directed Munde to step down. It is now expected that Munde will submit his resignation today.
Valmik Karad, the prime accused in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case, is known to be a close associate of Dhananjay Munde. Ever since his name surfaced in connection with the case, demands for Munde’s resignation had been growing. However, Ajit Pawar had defended Munde, stating that he had no direct involvement in the crime. Fadnavis, too, had initially maintained that Munde’s party should decide on the matter.
The situation escalated when graphic images of Deshmukh’s murder went viral, sparking widespread outrage across the state. CM Fadnavis had been firm on his stance regarding Munde’s resignation from the beginning, but Munde was reluctant to step down. Fadnavis had earlier asked Ajit Pawar to take the final call on the matter. However, following the public outcry over the viral photos, Fadnavis personally ordered Munde to resign.
All eyes are now on Dhananjay Munde to see if he will submit his resignation as directed by the Chief Minister.
