In a development that shook the political circles of Maharashtra, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad has decided to resign after back to back criminal cases were slapped against him.
Dr Awhad (59) is an MLA from Mumbra-Kalwa of Thane and is considered close to NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.
Dr Awhad had worked as Minister of Medical Education, Horticulture, Employment Guarantee in the erstwhile Democratic Front government headed by Prithviraj Chavan and Housing Minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government headed by Uddhav Thackeray.
The Mumbra police in neighbouring Thane district registered a case in the wee hours of Monday against Dr Awhad under Indian Penal Code Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) following a complaint by a woman, who alleged that he was pushed while making way for himself during the dispersal of a crowd after an event of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
On Friday, he was arrested by the Vartak Nagar police station for disrupting the show of Marathi film Har Har Mahadev at a multiplex inside a mall in Thane city. According to him, the film has distorted the history of the legendary Maratha warrior. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Ahead and a dozen of his supporters were granted bail by a local court.
Meanwhile, hours after he decided to design, the NCP leadership including Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Ajit Pawar, state NCP President Jayant Patil and Baramati MP Supriya Sule asked Dr Awhad not to resign.
“We believe in ‘Satya Me Jayate’…we have to fight it out, Sule said.
NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto tweeted: “Dear Jitu Sir, you are a warrior and a fighter who leads from the front. You say you are a 'Born Rebel' and surely you are, a 'Rebel' with a ‘Cause'. We all are with you, so 'DON'T RESIGN’. Satyamev Jayate @Awhadspeaks".
Meanwhile, the lady complainant said: "I seek justice....as a common person I seek justice."
It may be mentioned, last week, Dr Awhad had participated in the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi in Nanded district.