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The Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has taken a decisive step in the wake of controversy surrounding the appointment of Shrikant Pangarkar, an accused in the 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh. Despite Pangarkar joining the party ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, the Shiv Sena has issued a statement on Sunday, suspending his appointment to any post within the party in Jalna district. This decision comes as a response to the public backlash and scrutiny surrounding Pangarkar's involvement in the high-profile murder case.
Pangarkar's affiliation with the Shiv Sena dates back to his time as a Jalna municipal councillor between 2001 and 2006. However, after being denied a ticket by the party in 2011, he joined the right-wing Hindu Janjagruti Samiti. His recent return to the Shiv Sena, under the leadership of Arjun Khotkar, a prominent party leader and former state minister, was announced on Friday. Khotkar initially declared Pangarkar as the chief of the Jalna assembly poll campaign, a significant role in the upcoming elections.
The murder of Gauri Lankesh, a prominent journalist known for her critical views, shook the nation in 2017. The Karnataka police, with assistance from Maharashtra agencies, launched a thorough investigation, leading to the arrest of several individuals, including Pangarkar. He was taken into custody in August 2018 and subsequently granted bail by the Karnataka High Court in September 2023. The public outcry over Pangarkar's recent appointment to a position within the Shiv Sena, a party that holds significant influence in Maharashtra, has prompted the party to take swift action, suspending his post in an attempt to mitigate potential political damage.
Source: No Party Post To Gauri Lankesh Murder Accused: Eknath Shinde's Sena