A political storm erupted in Maharashtra on Monday after Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe directed the state government to suspend Satara Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi over alleged manhandling and chaos during the Zilla Parishad president election last week, reported news agency PTI.
Directive issued over alleged police misconduct
Gorhe issued the direction during a special sitting of the Legislative Council, stating that strict action was necessary against officials involved in the incident, reported PTI.
“I am directing the government to suspend the Satara SP and others who manhandled voters and ministers,” she said, expressing concern over the handling of the situation, reported PTI.
Ministers allege manhandling during polls
The issue was raised in the House by Shiv Sena member Hemant Patil, who alleged that senior leaders, including state minister Shamburaj Desai, NCP leader Makarand Patil and MLC Shashikant Shinde, were manhandled by police personnel during the election process, reported PTI.
Both Desai and Makarand Patil demanded immediate suspension of the SP, accusing the local police of acting unfairly during the high-stakes contest.
Controversial Zilla Parishad election outcome
The controversy stems from the election held on Friday for the post of Zilla Parishad president in Satara, where BJP’s Priya Shinde emerged victorious.
The result surprised many as the Shiv Sena-NCP combine was believed to have the numerical advantage, but the BJP managed to secure the post by a narrow margin.
Demand for inquiry into incident
Gorhe also pointed out that the government should have initiated an inquiry into the incident earlier, noting that no such action had been taken so far, reported PTI.
Her remarks underscored concerns about administrative accountability and the need for transparency in the conduct of local body elections.
Heated exchanges in House
The issue triggered sharp exchanges between members of the ruling alliance, including the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, and the NCP faction led by Sunetra Pawar, reported PTI.
The ruckus highlighted internal tensions within the Mahayuti alliance, which currently governs Maharashtra.
Political implications
The episode has intensified political friction in the state, with opposition leaders raising questions about law enforcement neutrality and the fairness of the electoral process.
(With inputs from PTI)
