Satara Zilla Parishad election row puts Maharashtra ruling allies at odds over police action

Maharashtra’s ruling allies clashed over the Satara Zilla Parishad president election after ministers alleged police manhandling and demanded the suspension of Satara SP Tushar Doshi. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde criticised the police action, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said an inquiry would be held. BJP’s Priya Shinde won the post.

Tensions within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti surfaced after the Satara Zilla Parishad president election. The dispute reached both houses of the legislature. It focused on claims that police stopped some elected members from voting. Leaders from allied parties then blamed each other for the outcome and the handling of the poll.

In the assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde criticised the alleged police action during the Friday vote. Shinde accused authorities of using power to affect the result in Satara. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said an inquiry would be held. Fadnavis said action would follow, based on the findings.

Satara Zilla Parishad president election and police action claims

In the council, deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe asked the government to suspend Satara SP Tushar Doshi. The demand followed complaints of ruckus and manhandling during the poll. Shiv Sena member Hemant Patil raised the issue in a special sitting. NCP’s Hemant Kale joined, along with ministers Shamburaj Desai and Makarand Patil.

Desai and Patil alleged local police manhandled them at the Friday election. NCP SP MLC Shashikant Shinde was also named as present during the incident. Shiv Sena’s Manisha Kayande sought suspension of the district collector as well. The ZP election result added to the anger among allies. BJP’s Priya Shinde won the top post.

The BJP defeat of the Shiv Sena-NCP combine’s candidate drew attention because of the numbers. The Shiv Sena-NCP side claimed a majority in the rural local body. Still, the BJP narrowly moved ahead of the Sena-NCP alliance tally. The BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena are partners in the Mahayuti coalition government.

Satara Zilla Parishad president election row triggers council face-off

Gorhe then said, "I am directing the government to suspend the Satara SP and others who manhandled voters and ministers.\" Gorhe said a probe should have started earlier. Gorhe said it had not happened due to some reasons. The statement drew objections from the BJP, which leads the coalition.

BJP minister Jaikumar Gore said the Chair should have checked facts first. Later, in the regular sitting, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar cited a past case. Darekar said an IAS officer suspended by the lower house Chair was reinstated. Darekar asked whether the Chair can suspend an IAS officer during a session.

Darekar also argued that suspension powers rest with the Chief Minister. Darekar warned that the deputy chairperson’s direction could set a wrong example. Council chairperson Ram Shinde said a ruling would be given soon. NCP SP’s Shashikant Shinde said questioning the Chair’s decision was wrong. Shinde said lack of action could give officers unbridled power.

Satara Zilla Parishad president election dispute widens Mahayuti cracks

Shiv Sena UBT MLC Anil Parab claimed Gorhe misused her power. The episode highlighted strain inside the ruling alliance. Sena minister Shamburaj Desai also acknowledged bitter experiences in the council. Desai later told reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan complex that pressure was used. Desai alleged irregularities in the voting process in Satara.

Desai said the district’s reputation was harmed during the election process. Desai is the guardian minister of Satara. Desai said the Shiv Sena would take legal action against members who broke the whip. Deputy CM Shinde backed Desai’s stand in the assembly. Shinde said police actions stopped elected members from voting.

Shinde said, \"Depriving an elected representative from casting his or her vote is nothing but a murder of democracy. It is a serious crime. I told the SP not to take any anti-democratic steps, but the police treated elected representatives like criminals and removed them from the Satara ZP premises.\" Shinde said police were told not to block any member’s franchise.

Shinde said the matter was raised with Director General of Police Sadanand Date. Shinde said there was worry about misuse of power due to a tight margin. Shinde said the Sena-NCP alliance had a narrow majority by two votes in Satara ZP. Despite assurances from senior officials, Shinde said some members were taken away before voting.

Shinde said the timing of the police action was questioned with senior officials. Shinde called it \"unprecedented in Maharashtras political history\". Shinde alleged the action looked aimed at changing the electoral outcome. The statements added to public friction among partners and opponents. The issue kept the Satara poll at the centre of state politics.

Parab challenged the Shiv Sena to leave the Mahayuti government. Parab said, \"Ministers are getting beaten up, but they Sena and NCP are scared to name the BJP. The police are beating you up, and you are staying mum. Where is your self-respect and rebellious streak?\" Parab added that even an NCP minister was beaten up.

Shiv Sena UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray also attacked the Shinde-led party over the episode. Thackeray said the incident showed that group its standing in government. Thackeray said, \"Those in the Shinde group are a bunch of cowards, who go quiet when they are shown files,\" while speaking to reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan premises.

The Satara Zilla Parishad president election dispute left coalition partners arguing over police conduct and legislative authority. The government said an inquiry would look into the alleged actions during the Friday vote. The council chairperson said a ruling would be issued on the suspension question. The episode continued to expose tensions within the Mahayuti alliance.

With inputs from PTI