Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: 'Hit me or shoot me, Anil Deshmukh will not die,' former minister vows to 'teach BJP a lesson'

The alleged attack on Deshmukh's convoy took place on the Katol-Jalalkheda Road in the Nagpur district.

Mumbai: A day after he sustained serious injuries on his head in an incident of stone-pelting in Nagpur, former home minister Anil Deshmukh vowed to teach BJP a lesson even as the saffron party claimed that the incident was a political stunt by the NCP (SP) leader.

Deshmukh (74) is a senior leader of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and his son Salil Deshmukh is contesting the assembly elections from the Katol seat earlier represented by his father.

"I want to tell the BJP people, whether you hit me with a stone or even shoot me…. Anil Deshmukh will not die. We will not rest without teaching you a lesson,” Deshmukh said after being discharged from a private hospital on Tuesday evening.

The alleged attack on his convoy took place on the Katol-Jalalkheda Road in the Nagpur district.

He was rushed to the Gramin Rugnalaya before being shifted to Alexis Hospital in Nagpur.

“BJP does not want Katol and Nagpur to remain safe as they face imminent defeat in the election,” Salil has said after the incident.

The BJP has fielded Charansing Babulalji Thakur against Salil.

The Nagpur Rural police has registered a case of attempt to murder against four unidentified persons who were involved in the attack.

BJP MLC Parinay Fuke claimed that it was a fake attack and a political stunt.

NCP (SP) Working President Supriya Sule, who is the Baramati MP, said: “This is a very unfortunate and outrageous incident. We all condemn this attack. This state has never had the mentality to attack in this manner during elections. This state is a democratic state. But during the time of BJP, the law and order situation in the state, especially in Nagpur district, has deteriorated and gangsters have got free rein."

"It is our demand that the attackers and their masterminds who attacked Deshmukh should be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice,” she said.

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.

Subscribe and follow DH on Whatsapp, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to never miss out on anything.