Leaders cutting across party lines seek arrest of Walmik Karad; Fadnavis faces more heat as he holds home portfolio | File Image
Despite a rock solid majority of 230 seats in a 288-member legislative assembly, the Maha Yuti government led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis appears to be vulnerable in front of a man with a slew of criminal cases against him in Beed district. The heat is turned more on Fadnavis since he holds the home portfolio.
Walmik Karad, widely recognised as the Man Friday of minister for food and civil supplies Dhananjay Munde of the NCP (Ajit Pawar), is the person who arrest is being demanded by all across the political spectrum. What is interesting is that a BJP MLA Suresh Dhas is in the front of the agitation for his arrest.
The family of Santosh Deshmukh, a village sarpanch, has accused Karad as the main conspirator in the murder on December 9. However, Karad’s name is not included in the FIR. But he is wanted in connection with alleged extortion of Rs 2 crores from a windmill company. It’s been three weeks since the most brutal murder, but the police have not been able to track down Karad, who has gone underground. Neither the Beed police, nor the state CID, which has now been entrusted with the investigation of the murder of Deshmukh, have been able to solve the crime which has shocked the state by its sheer brutality. Deshmukh was kidnapped in a Scorpio and repeatedly stabbed to death before being dumped on the wayside. The video showing his blood-stained body has gone viral. His only crime was that he opposed the alleged extortion bid by Karad.
Leaders of opposition parties and thousands of citizens of Beed took out a massive morcha on Saturday to demand the arrest of Karad and the resignation of Munde. However, the Fadnavis government appears to be totally clueless about tackling the crisis. It appears to be under the delusion that the issue will fade out with the efflux of time. But that doesnt appear to be the case. In fact, the murder has made both the opposition and civil society determined to have Munde removed from his post.
Munde is a prominent leader of the OBCs and that appears to be the only reason why Fadnavis is reluctant to sack him. But sources in the BJP said it is for deputy CM Ajit Pawar to take a call since Munde belongs to his party. However, the failure to nab Karad and show the door to Munde is inflicting more political damage on the BJP than the NCP (Ajit Pawar). Fadnavis’ indecisiveness cannot be attributed to his commitment to coalition dharma since the issue is the horrific murder of an honest sarpanch.
Munde, who was earlier in the BJP, is apparently finding it difficult to jettison Karad and demand his immediate arrest. This is because Karad is the proverbial man who knows too much. Karad started his public life as the organiser of Ganesh festival in Parli. His organisational ability caught the attention of the late BJP leader Gopinath Munde, who is the uncle of Dhananjay Munde. Gopinath Munde asked Karad to work in his house. Soon the intrepid Karad was finding himself handling the politics manoeuvres of Munde Sr in Beed and rest of Marathwada. He became a municipal councillor and has not looked back since then.
Known for his rough and tough ways, Karad veered close to Dhananjay after the demise of Gopinath Munde. When Dhananjay was deeply embroiled in a controversy involving a woman, it was Karad who untied the knots and got the complaint to be withdrawn. He was widely regarded as the alter ego of the minister. No less a person than Pankaja Munde, daughter of Gopinath Munde, described him as such at a recent public meeting.
