New Delhi: Maharashtra political landscape was thrust into turmoil on Saturday as the Opposition called for the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after a BJP MLA was arrested for allegedly shooting and injuring a Shiv Sena leader in a violent altercation over a land dispute, news agency PTI reported.
The Congress termed the episode as a pointer to a significant "breakdown" in law and order within the state. The Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, also slammed CM Shinde, while NCP chief Sharad Pawar expressed deep concern, emphasising the necessity to curb the "misuse" of power.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a high-level probe into the incident, while Ajit Pawar said it was unacceptable for elected representatives to take matters into their own hands.
According to the report, the BJP MLA, Ganpat Gaikwad, reportedly opened fire on Mahesh Gaikwad, the Shiv Sena chief of Kalyan, inside a police station in Ulhasnagar, Thane district.
Ganpat Gaikwad, before his arrest, accused CM Shinde of attempting to establish a "kingdom of criminals" in Maharashtra during a phone interview with news channel 'Zee24taas, PTI reported.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan condemned the shooting as "extremely serious and worrisome," adding that it not only challenged law and order but also raised doubts about the state government's ability to deliver justice.
Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, attributed the incident to "arrogance of power" and "vendetta politics," accusing CM Shinde of “promoting” a culture of mob rule in the state.
“There is a law and order breakdown,” PTI quoted Wadettiwar as saying.
State Congress president Nana Patole demanded CM Shinde's immediate resignation in light of the serious allegations made by the BJP MLA. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut echoed the sentiment, holding CM Shinde responsible for the shooting, claiming that the government in Maharashtra had been formed through “mobocracy and gundagiri.”
“The incident has occurred in CM’s district and he is responsible for it. Gaikwad has blamed Eknath Shinde,” Raut told the news agency.
NCP working president Supriya Sule questioned whether the deputy CM had given an open license to BJP leaders to flout law and order, urging the Centre to dismiss the state government.
“In Pune, a BJP MLA slapped a police officer in public, while in Ulhasnagar, another BJP MLA opened fire on a former corporator in a police station. The chief minister and deputy chief minister are keeping quiet,” PTI quoted Sule as saying.
Amidst the chaos, BJP leaders, including Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, countered the accusations, emphasising that the party did not endorse or encourage such acts. Devendra Fadnavis, while ordering a high-level inquiry into the shooting, reiterated the need to ascertain the circumstances that led to the MLA opening fire.