Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde has stepped down from his post following intense political heat over the gruesome murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accepted his resignation on Tuesday morning, just before the legislative assembly session commenced.
Munde’s resignation follows relentless opposition pressure, with parties warning they would stall assembly proceedings unless he stepped down. Announcing the move in the House, CM Fadnavis stated that Munde resigned voluntarily, and his resignation letter has been forwarded to the governor for approval.
#WATCH | Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde has tendered his resignation today. I have accepted the resignation and sent it to the Governor for further course of action." https://t.co/S8YYzZxr7D pic.twitter.com/DpxcIUWsrZ
— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2025
The decision came after a high-stakes late-night meeting at Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s official residence, Devgiri Bungalow, on Monday. Fadnavis, Pawar, state minister Sunil Tatkare, and Munde convened amid mounting public outrage. Sources indicate that Fadnavis firmly conveyed that Munde’s exit was necessary to prevent further political fallout for the Mahayuti government.
At the center of the storm is Valmik Karad, a close associate of Munde, whose alleged involvement in Deshmukh’s brutal murder has fueled demands for action. Karad, a key figure in Munde’s political network in Beed, has been linked to the case, further intensifying pressure on the government.