A shocking incident unfolded near Mumbai last night as a city chief affiliated with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena was targeted in a shooting allegedly carried out by a BJP legislator, as per police reports.
Ganpat Gaikwad, who represents the Kalyan East constituency in Kalyan, situated approximately 40 km from Mumbai, reportedly fired at Mahesh Gaikwad during a confrontation over a land dispute at a police station. Both individuals sustained injuries, with Mahesh Gaikwad and another supporter rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
The altercation arose during discussions at the Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar concerning the land dispute. Sudhakar Pathare, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), stated that the firing occurred from one side, leading to injuries.
Ganpat Gaikwad, the detained BJP MLA, claimed self-defence, asserting that he resorted to firing due to alleged misbehavior by Mahesh’s supporters toward his son.
The incident has raised concerns about law and order, with the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena criticizing the government’s failure to maintain order. Anand Dubey, spokesperson for the Uddhav faction, condemned the shooting, questioning the apparent lack of fear of the law among those involved, particularly when both parties hold power in the state government.
Notably, the Shiv Sena had experienced a split in 2022 when Eknath Shinde formed a government with BJP’s support after a revolt against then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Last year, the Election Commission ruled in favor of Mr. Shinde in a dispute related to the split.
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