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New Delhi: An independent candidate accused in the 2017 killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh has emerged victorious in the Jalna civic polls, drawing nationwide attention and reigniting debate on criminal cases and electoral politics.
Shrikant Pangarkar won the Ward 13 seat in the Jalna Municipal Corporation elections by a margin of 2,621 votes, defeating contenders from the BJP and other parties. He celebrated the win with supporters shortly after the results were announced.
The contest in Ward 13 turned into a multi-cornered fight as the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, did not field a candidate.
Pangarkar’s victory comes while the criminal case linked to the murder of Gauri Lankesh is still pending trial. Speaking after the results, he said there has been no conviction against him and stressed that the judicial process is ongoing.
Soon after the outcome, visuals of Pangarkar celebrating circulated widely on social media, triggering criticism and renewed discussion over the participation of accused individuals in electoral politics.
The Jalna Municipal Corporation elections were held on January 15.
Gauri Lankesh, a journalist and social activist known for her outspoken views, was shot dead outside her residence in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. The killing sparked widespread outrage across the country and intensified debates around freedom of expression, dissent, and political intolerance.
Pangarkar was later named as one of the accused in the case. He was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court on September 4, 2024.
Pangarkar earlier served as a corporator in the Jalna municipal council between 2001 and 2006, when the Shiv Sena was still undivided. After being denied a ticket in 2011, he joined the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.
In August 2018, he was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad after crude bombs and weapons were allegedly recovered from multiple locations in the state. He was booked under provisions of the Explosives Act, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections in November 2024, Pangarkar briefly joined the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde. However, following public backlash, Shinde announced that Pangarkar’s induction into the party had been put on hold.
