Recent days have witnessed a dramatic escalation in the political feud between former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Deshmukh, recently released on bail from a corruption case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has leveled serious allegations against Fadnavis, accusing him of attempting to frame him through coercion.
Deshmukh claims that Fadnavis allegedly sent a third party to pressure him into implicating former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and four other MVA ministers. According to Deshmukh, this individual threatened arrest if he did not comply, an accusation that has intensified the political climate ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections.
Potential Electoral Contest:
In light of these allegations, Deshmukh is reportedly considering a significant move: running against Fadnavis in the Nagpur South-West constituency. Traditionally a stronghold of the Congress party, the seat may witness a dramatic shift as Congress leadership in Nagpur is said to have offered support for Deshmukh’s candidacy in exchange for the NCP’s backing of their candidate. Local Congress leader Praful Gudhe, who has been active in the constituency for several years, is keen on contesting against Fadnavis. Additionally, former Cabinet Minister Sunil Kedar, recently arrested in a bank fraud case, is reportedly assisting Gudhe.
Family Tradition of Opposition:
FPJ Sources indicate that Deshmukh is actively preparing for the electoral contest and is in talks with high-level NCP leadership about the Nagpur South-West seat. There is speculation that Deshmukh may vacate his current Katol seat for his son, Salil Deshmukh, who has been actively engaging with constituents and participating in party activities.
Should Deshmukh proceed with his bid against Fadnavis, it would mark the third member of his family to challenge the BJP leader. Previously, Deshmukh’s brother, Ranjit Deshmukh, contested against Fadnavis in 2004, and his son, Ashish Deshmukh, ran in the last assembly elections as a BJP candidate.
BJP sources suggest that Deshmukh’s allegations against Fadnavis might be a strategic maneuver as he prepares for the upcoming electoral battle. The political landscape in Maharashtra is set for a fierce showdown as these high-profile figures gear up for what promises to be a contentious election season.