Overview

• Dhananjay Munde, a senior NCP leader and Maharashtra's food and civil supplies minister, resigned citing health reasons but faced mounting pressure over his aide's alleged involvement in a murder case.
• The resignation followed leaked videos showing the torture and killing of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, a case that has fueled tensions between Maratha and OBC communities in the region.
• Munde's close associate and election manager, Walmik Karad, was implicated in the murder, leading to widespread demands for Munde's dismissal from both opposition and ruling coalition members.
• Ajit Pawar, the NCP leader and Maharashtra deputy chief minister, initially resisted calls for Munde's resignation, citing a lack of direct involvement, but eventually supported the decision as public outrage grew.
• The incident has strained alliances within the ruling coalition and highlighted ongoing Maratha-OBC tensions, with the NCP now grappling with political fallout and efforts to repair its image.