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Shrikant Pangarkar, Accused in Gauri Lankesh Killing, Wins Jalna Ward as Independent

The outcome refocuses attention on laws that allow those charged, not convicted, to contest elections.

Overview

  • Pangarkar won Ward 13 of the Jalna Municipal Corporation with 2,661 votes, defeating BJP’s Raosaheb Dhoble, who polled 2,477, according to election officials.
  • He remains an accused in the 2017 Gauri Lankesh murder case and is out on bail granted by the Karnataka High Court on September 4, 2024, with trials continuing.
  • The Maharashtra ATS had arrested him in 2018 in an arms and explosives probe under the Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act and UAPA.
  • Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena did not field a candidate in Ward 13 after placing Pangarkar’s 2024 induction into the party on hold, leading him to run as an independent.
  • Videos released by PTI showed Pangarkar celebrating with supporters, as the result fed a wider debate over accused candidates in public office and came as the BJP led overall in the Jalna civic body.