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Tainted Governance

Correspondent

Updated: Jan 2

The shocking murder of Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, has triggered a political firestorm that has put the ruling Mahayuti coalition led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a precarious position. Beyond the tragedy itself, the political reverberations of the incident threaten to derail the goodwill the Mahayuti gained from its commanding victory in the November assembly elections.


The facts are grim. Deshmukh, a grassroots leader known for his fight against corruption, was allegedly abducted and brutally killed after intervening in an extortion attempt at a wind power plant in his village. While the police have arrested four suspects, the alleged mastermind, Valmik Karad, is a close associate of NCP leader and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde. The opposition claims the government is shielding Karad, who has yet to be named an accused. This accusation has turned a heinous crime into a political flashpoint.


The Congress and other opposition parties have demanded Munde’s ouster from the cabinet until the investigation is complete, arguing that his continued presence undermines the credibility of the probe. Even some members of the ruling alliance have voiced their anger and demanded Karad’s arrest.


Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, has ordered a judicial inquiry and vowed that no one, however influential, will escape justice. But his assurances ring hollow as protests swell across the state. Public outrage is palpable. Over 28,000 gram panchayats in Maharashtra are set to observe a bandh on January 9, calling for swift justice and stricter laws to protect rural leaders.


Munde’s alleged links to Karad are the most contentious issue here. Keeping him in the cabinet risks eroding the Mahayuti’s credibility, especially given the minister’s influence in Beed. The Mahayuti’s decisive victory in November gave it a mandate to govern with integrity and efficiency. However, the goodwill it enjoys is not infinite. By failing to act decisively, the government risks squandering the public trust it has earned.


Fadnavis has an opportunity to set a precedent. Known for his administrative acumen, he must act swiftly to safeguard his government’s credibility. Allowing Munde to remain in the cabinet sends the wrong message, implying that political alliances trump justice. By dropping Munde from the cabinet until the probe concludes, Fadnavis could demonstrate that no individual, however influential, is above the law. Failure to do so could leave the coalition vulnerable to accusations of complicity and incompetence.


The sarpanch’s murder is not just a law-and-order failure but a litmus test for the Mahayuti’s governance. If the coalition fails to act decisively, it risks losing the trust of the very voters who propelled it to power. Justice for Deshmukh is not merely a legal issue but a moral obligation, and the Mahayuti must rise to meet it. Anything less would be a betrayal of the people’s trust and a blight on the state’s political landscape.

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