Daijiworld Media Network - Jalna

Jalna, Jan 16: Shrikant Pangarkar, an accused in the 2017 murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, was elected as a corporator in the Jalna Municipal Corporation elections held in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region on Friday.

Pangarkar, who contested as an independent candidate from ward number 13, secured 2,661 votes, defeating his nearest rival Raosaheb Dhoble of the BJP, who polled 2,477 votes, election officials said.

All major political parties, barring the Shiv Sena, had fielded candidates against Pangarkar. Ahead of the November 2024 Assembly elections, he had briefly joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, but the party later put his induction on hold following widespread public criticism.

Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her Bengaluru residence on September 5, 2017, triggering nationwide outrage. In August 2018, Pangarkar was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad under provisions of the Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. He was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court on September 4, 2024.

Pangarkar had earlier served as a member of the Jalna Municipal Council between 2001 and 2006, when the Shiv Sena was undivided. After being denied a party ticket in 2011, he joined the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.

Meanwhile, the BJP is heading towards securing control of the Jalna Municipal Corporation, leading in 41 of the 65 seats. The BJP and its allies Shiv Sena and NCP contested the polls separately, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress, fought the elections together.

Vote counting is underway for 29 civic bodies across Maharashtra, which went to polls a day earlier.