Shiv Sena ministers and legislators staged protests at the Maharashtra Assembly headquarters on Monday, demanding action against a “partisan” superintendent of police, Tushar Doshi, on charges of helping ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Satara district council chief election.
The BJP won the elections even with the Sena and National Congress (NCP) having members. Some voted no, and two members of the National Congress Party were arrested on kidnapping charges while on their way to cast their votes. Voters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance contested the local elections in the state separately.
Deputy Prime Minister Eknath Shinde lamented the “murder of democracy”, saying it should never have happened. He raised the issue in the council and said that he was an eyewitness to the developments. Shinde said he had contacted Doshi and Maharashtra Police Chief Sadanand Det to ensure that all council members voted. He added that the two members of the National Congress Party were prevented from doing so, despite assurances.
Shinde quoted Shiv Sena Minister Shambhuraj Desai as telling him that NCP members were booked in cases dating back five to ten years, a day before the elections. He added that he urged Doshi and Date to allow NCP members to vote first and then proceed with any legal action, as no one should be deprived of their voting rights. “Preventing individuals from voting is a crime and amounts to killing democracy.”
Shinde said that Doshi and Dati assured him in separate talks that NCP members would be allowed to vote. He added: “But the police detained them outside the polling station despite the opposition of our ministers and representatives present.” He added that such an incident was unprecedented. “For the first time, we have seen such a situation in Maharashtra. This is also the first time that attempts have been made to deprive people of exercising their voting rights.”
Chief Minister Davendra Fadnavis promised to conduct an investigation and take action based on its findings.
In the Legislative Council, Desai raised the issue and alleged that the police manhandled NCP Minister Makrand Patel in Satara during the elections and forcefully tried to stop them. He added that he also suffered injuries. Desai alleged that the police were involved in a political conflict and demanded the suspension of Doshi and 100 police personnel. “How can the police manhandle ministers? We will not tolerate this. I ask you to suspend them.”
NCP legislator Sanjay Khodke criticized the role of the police during the elections in Sarara. He wondered how the police could play a political role.
BJP minister Jaikumar Gaur hit out at Shiv Sena ministers, alleging that they tried to protect NCP members accused of kidnapping. “The court will decide who is guilty and who is not. How can they try to protect these people?”
Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Council Neelam Gurhe ordered the suspension of Doshi and 100 other police personnel for allegedly dealing with Desai and Patel.
