Mumbai, March 04, 2025 – Maharashtra’s political landscape witnessed a significant development today as Dhananjay Munde, a prominent leader of Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and a minister in the Mahayuti government, tendered his resignation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the resignation, stating that Munde’s personal assistant, Prashant Joshi, delivered the letter to him at his official residence. “Dhananjay Munde has sent me his resignation. I have accepted it and forwarded it to the Governor for further action,” Fadnavis told reporters at the legislative building in Mumbai.
Munde’s resignation comes amid escalating controversy surrounding his alleged links to the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. Deshmukh was kidnapped, tortured, and killed on December 9, 2024, reportedly for resisting an extortion bid targeting an energy company in the region. The Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) filed an 1800-page charge sheet in February, naming Munde’s close associate, Valmik Karad, as the mastermind behind the crime. Karad, along with six accomplices, was arrested in January 2025 and charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
The case, which has sparked widespread outrage, gained further traction after images and videos of Deshmukh’s brutal murder surfaced, intensifying public and political pressure on Munde. Though no direct evidence has been presented linking Munde to the crime, his association with Karad has fueled demands for his resignation from both opposition parties and some within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), NCP, and Shiv Sena.
Sources indicate that Chief Minister Fadnavis had previously communicated to NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, as well as senior NCP leader Praful Patel, that Munde’s continuance in the cabinet was untenable given the allegations. A late-night meeting on Monday between Fadnavis, Pawar, and senior NCP leaders, including Munde, reportedly paved the way for today’s decision. While Ajit Pawar had earlier maintained that the party would decide on Munde’s fate after the investigation concluded, the mounting pressure appears to have accelerated the process.
Munde, who held the portfolio of Food and Civil Supplies, is a key figure in Beed district politics and represents the Parli constituency as an MLA. Hailing from a politically influential family—his uncle was the late BJP leader Gopinath Munde—he has been a significant player in the NCP under Ajit Pawar’s leadership. However, his tenure has been marred by controversies, including recent allegations of corruption and a court order last month directing him to pay ₹2 lakh monthly maintenance to his estranged partner, Karuna Sharma.
The opposition, including the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction, has hailed Munde’s exit as a victory but insists it is insufficient. Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) remarked, “The resignation is a step, but not enough. The government must ensure justice for Santosh Deshmukh.” Meanwhile, the Mahayuti coalition has sought to downplay internal rifts, with Fadnavis asserting that all decisions are being made within the legal framework and in consultation with coalition partners.
The Beed sarpanch murder case continues to unfold, with the CID and a special investigation team (SIT) probing deeper into the extortion racket allegedly orchestrated by Karad. As Maharashtra’s budget session progresses, Munde’s resignation marks the first major political casualty for the Fadnavis-led government in 2025, raising questions about stability within the coalition.
The Time Press will continue to monitor this developing story and bring updates as they emerge.
