Maharashtra politics has been left in chaos after the resignation of NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde, who resigned during the aftermath of the Beed Sarpanch murder case. The move follows the release of an explosive 1,800-page chargesheet that showed gory details of how the accused, Karad, planned the murder of Sarpanch Deshmukh over a raging land dispute.
The stunning disclosures have raised political heat in the state, with opposition parties calling for accountability and challenging the government’s response to the case. Munde’s resignation has also stoked rumors of high-level political involvement, as the probe keeps unspooling new connections between the accused and powerful individuals.
Karad had supposedly masterminded the murder over land disputes, hiring a cadre of hitmen to carry out the act, says the chargesheet. Police have referred to the case as a pre-planned act of political violence, highlighting the entrenched land dispute which are known to fuel such murderous rivalries in rural Maharashtra.
With Munde stepping down and increased pressure on the state government, the case would be likely to have broad political ramifications. Predictions are being made for heightened scrutiny of politicians with suspected associations with the accused, as Maharashtra prepares for more turmoil following this very high-profile resignation.
