Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde is facing mounting pressure to resign amid allegations linking his close aide Walmik Karad to an extortion case and the murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. His estranged wife Karuna Sharma-Munde claimed on Sunday that senior leaders had already sought his resignation, which would be announced before the state budget session.
The 13-day budget session begins Monday, and the speculation over Munde’s exit has intensified. Speaking to a Marathi news channel, Sharma stated, “As per my sources, Munde’s resignation was sought two days ago, and he will have to step down before the session.”
She further pointed out that Munde had earlier admitted Karad was his close aide and had promised to resign if Karad was found guilty. With Karad now named in the chargesheet, Sharma asserted, “For moral or other reasons, Munde will have to resign.”
The case has caused a political storm, as the chargesheet alleges that Karad ordered the murder of anyone obstructing his extortion attempts from a wind energy company. This revelation has provided fresh ammunition to the opposition, demanding Munde’s immediate resignation.
When contacted for a response, Munde stated that he would attend the state cabinet meeting later in the day, avoiding direct comments on the resignation speculation. With the budget session around the corner, all eyes are now on whether Munde will step down or fight back against the mounting controversy.
