Political Dispute Escalates: MNS Activists Damage NCP Leader's Car in Akola

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers vandalised the car of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLC Amol Mitkari in Akola on Tuesday. This incident followed Mitkari's criticism of MNS chief Raj Thackeray for targeting Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over recent water-logging in Pune.

Hours after the incident, Jay Malokar, a 24-year-old MNS worker involved in the vandalism, suffered a heart attack and died at a government hospital in Akola. Sandeep Deshpande, general secretary of the Raj Thackeray-led party, confirmed this to reporters in Mumbai.

Police Action and Charges

The police have registered an FIR against 13 MNS workers, including the Akola district women's wing president. They face charges under various sections, including unlawful assembly and mischief by injury, as per the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), an official stated.

Mitkari, a loyalist of NCP chief Ajit Pawar and party spokesperson, claimed that 30 to 40 MNS workers vandalised his car near the government guesthouse in Akola city. This act was allegedly in response to his recent remarks against Raj Thackeray.

Background of the Incident

Raj Thackeray had criticised Ajit Pawar for flooding in some areas of Pune due to dam discharge amid heavy rainfall last week. In retaliation, Mitkari called Thackeray "the most unsuccessful person in Maharashtra politics" and said he should not comment on Ajit Pawar's work.

Several MNS workers gathered at the government rest house in Akola around 2:30 PM for a press conference organised by the Raj Thackeray-led party. Mitkari's car was spotted nearby, leading to its vandalisation by the MNS workers, according to a police official.

Health Complications and Death

After the incident, Malokar complained of chest pain and was admitted to a government hospital in Akola. His ECG report indicated a major heart attack. Despite being rushed to the ICU for an angiography and further treatment, he died before the procedure could be performed.

NCP's Response

An angry NCP demanded action against Raj Thackeray for the vandalisation of Mitkari's car. NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil stated that Thackeray should face legal consequences for endorsing such behaviour from his party workers. He urged the state home minister to order the police to lodge a complaint against Thackeray.

Patil warned that if no punitive action is taken, MNS workers might target even higher officials like the home minister or chief minister in future attacks. He also taunted Raj Thackeray as a leader with good TRPs but who consistently fails to secure seats for his party in elections.

If MNS disapproves of Mitkari's comments, they are free to condemn them and lodge a police complaint instead of resorting to violence, added Patil.

Raj Thackeray had recently extended support to the tripartite Mahayuti alliance of Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, BJP, and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar in the Lok Sabha elections.

This incident has sparked significant political tension between MNS and NCP, highlighting ongoing conflicts within Maharashtra's political landscape.