Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde has stepped down from his post following the intensifying political storm over the brutal murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Munde’s close associate, Walmik Karad, has been named as an accused in the case, further escalating pressure on the Mahayuti government.
The decision came just a day after shocking photos of Deshmukh’s murder went viral, triggering widespread public outrage. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a late-night emergency meeting on Monday with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leaders, including Munde, to assess the situation. Following growing demands for action, Munde submitted his resignation on Tuesday, citing both moral responsibility and health reasons.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Munde reiterated his demand for the harshest punishment for those responsible for Deshmukh’s murder. “From day one, I have demanded strict action against the accused. After seeing the disturbing images, I am deeply shaken. The investigation is complete, the charge sheet has been filed, and a judicial inquiry is underway. Due to my sense of responsibility and deteriorating health, I have submitted my resignation to the Honorable Chief Minister,” he stated.
बीड जिल्ह्यातील मस्साजोगचे स्व. संतोष देशमुख यांच्या निर्घृण हत्येतील आरोपींना कठोरात कठोर शिक्षा व्हावी, ही माझी पहिल्या दिवसापासूनची ठाम मागणी आहे. काल समोर आलेले फोटो पाहून तर मन अत्यंत व्यथित झाले.
— Dhananjay Munde (@dhananjay_munde) March 4, 2025
या प्रकरणाचा तपास पूर्ण झाला असून आरोपपत्र न्यायालयात दाखल झाले आहे. तसेच,…
Munde, a prominent NCP leader from Ajit Pawar’s faction, represents the Parli seat in Beed district. A nephew of BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde and cousin of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde, his political career has seen several shifts. Initially with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, he joined Ajit Pawar’s faction in 2023 after the party split.