Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Anil Deshmukh injured after car pelted with stones; NCP (SP) condemns attack and calls for probe

Deshmukh's son Salil is contesting the election from the Katol seat on NCP Sharad Pawar's ticket.

Nagpur: Former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh was seriously injured after stones were hurled at his car in Nagpur district on Monday night, police said. The incident occurred around 8 pm when Deshmukh was returning to Katol after attending a meeting in Narkhed village. Some unidentified persons threw stones at Deshmukh's car near Belphata on the Jalalkheda Road near Katol.

Deshmukh, who sustained injuries during the attack, was immediately rushed to the Katol Civil Hospital, police said. Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police, Harssh Poddar, confirmed the incident. He said senior officers were rushed to the spot. "An investigation has begun. Police are trying to identify those responsible for the attack," he said.

The incident occurred on the last day of campaigning for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections. Condemning the incident, NCP (SP) spokesperson Vedprakash Arya sought a high-level inquiry and police protection for the former family's minister.

"Some people attacked Anil Deshmukh's car in Belfata Bhishnur in Katol, wherein Deshmukh received serious head injury. His treatment started in Katol but due to serious injury he is shifted to Nagpur for treatment," Arya said in a statement. The opposition is staring at a crushing defeat and, therefore, resorted to such a cowardly attack, he claimed.

"If this can happen to a former minister, what would happen to the common people?" said Congress leader and MLA Vikas Thakre after meeting Anil Deshmukh past midnight.

Another tweet, by the NCP (SP) X handle, quoted Supriya Sule, stating, "Anil Deshmukh attack was carried out by some social miscreants on the senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Chandra Pawar while returning from the campaign. This is a very unfortunate and outrageous incident. We all condemn this attack. There was never an attacking mentality in this state. This state believes in democratic ideas. But the law and order situation in the state, especially in Nagpur district, has been thoroughly investigated and the attackers and their masterminds have been arrested. This is our demand. Strongly condemn this incident once again."

Another tweet from the official NCP (SP) handle read, "It is three thirteen o'clock for law and order in the state. Democracy is being destroyed. An example of this came out today in the cowardly attack on Anil Deshmukh, the former home minister of the state and the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Chandra Pawar, while returning home from the conclusion of the election. This incident is publicly condemned on behalf of the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Chandra Pawar Party."

Deshmukh's son Salil Deshmukh is contesting from the Katol assembly constituency on the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) ticket against BJP's Charansingh Thakur.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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