Mumbai: After 53 days of facing allegations following the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, Food and Civil Supply Minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde received a significant boost on Friday. Dr Namdev Shashtri Maharaj, a respected spiritual leader of the Vanjari community from the Bhagwangad shrine in Beed, publicly expressed his support for Munde. This backing has stirred controversy across the state, as the Vanjari community holds Shastri’s guidance in high regard.
Munde, who had attended a DPDC meeting alongside Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, spent the night at Bhagwangad before meeting with Shastri on Friday morning to discuss his perspective on the ongoing issues.
Following their conversation, Shastri held a press conference where he said that Munde had been wrongfully portrayed as a criminal. According to Shastri, the accusations against Munde have caused considerable harm to the Vanjari community and are exacerbating communal tensions in the state.
Shastri also defended Munde against corruption allegations, arguing that the entire controversy stemmed from a localised village dispute that had been exaggerated. He condemned the ongoing media trial, stating that it was detrimental to all communities.
When asked about demands for Munde’s resignation, Shastri asserted that it was a personal decision for Munde to make. From a social perspective, he expressed confidence in Munde’s innocence and affirmed that the Bhagwangad shrine stood firmly in his support.
The spiritual leader’s intervention has sparked political speculation, with some analysts interpreting his support as a message to both the BJP and Ajit Pawar.
Interestingly, Shastri had previously blocked BJP leader Pankaja Munde from holding a Dussehra rally at Bhagwangad, asserting that the shrine should remain apolitical.
Munde, visibly reassured by Shastri’s backing, expressed his gratitude. “The support of the Bhagwangad shrine has given me immense strength,” he said. He questioned whether it was more important for the media and political figures to target him or to ensure justice for Deshmukh’s death. “For 53 days, I’ve been subjected to a media trial. It’s time to focus on the real issue,” Munde concluded.
However, social activist Anjali Damania voiced her strong disapproval of the situation. She stated that Bhagwangad is a sacred shrine and should not be used for political statements. Damania said she will meet Namdev Shastri soon, with documents supporting allegations against Munde. She also alleged that the real Munde is different from the Munde who visited the shrine.
Bawankule to mediate between Dhas, Munde
Amid the political rift between BJP MLA Suresh Dhas and Minister Dhananjay Munde, BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has stepped in to mediate.
Bawankule stated, “There is a conflict between MLA Suresh Dhas and Minister Dhananjay Munde. We will work towards resolving it by bringing both of them together.”
Despite being part of the Mahayuti alliance, the leaders are standing against each other. Dhas has consistently claimed that Munde is linked to the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case. He also revealed that the main accused in the case, Valmiki Karad, has business relations with Munde. This issue has gained significant attention due to Suresh Dhas’s statements.
