Dhananjay Munde

Ajit Pawar’s sudden demise in a plane crash has left Maharashtra in mourning. As leaders paid tribute and state honours were held in Baramati, a viral video of NCP MLA Dhananjay Munde reacting to the news sparked online debate over filming grief.

The exit of Munde is seen as part of Devendra Fadnavis' effort to maintain a clean image of his government

Dhananjay Munde submitted his resignation as a minister on Tuesday morning, CM Devendra Fadnavis said, adding that it has been accepted and forwarded to the Governor.

While Munde is in the hot water for his proximity to a murder suspect, allegations of corruption have made his position fragile in Devendra Fadnavis’s cabinet.

Ministers in Maharashtra are given responsibility of one or more districts. The announcement was awaited after the formation of the new BJP-NCP-Shiv Sena government last month. The state has 36 districts.

Jitendra Awhad, a former minister, was speaking at a press conference along with Rajesaheb Deshmukh, the NCP (SP) candidate who lost to Munde from Parli in Beed district.

The 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections saw polling for all 288 seats, including Parli, held on November 20. Key candidates contesting in the Parli constituency include Dhondiram Laxman Ujgare from BSP, Shaker Ahmed Shaikh, Hidayat Sadekhali Syed, Altaf Khajamiya Syed, and Dayanand Narayan Landge, all running as Independents. Other notable candidates are Rajesaheb Shrikishan Deshmukh (NCP-SP), Dhananjay Panditrao Munde (NCP), and Sahas Pandharinath Adode (MWMM), among others.

There has been a drop in carbon content in the soil, which has affected land fertility in many parts of the state, he said.