Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (file image)
Photo: Twitter
For the past few days, there has been a fierce battle of accusations and counter-accusations between the former state home minister and the senior NCP (SP) leader. Anil Deshmukh and the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra FadnavisAnil Deshmukh, who is out on bail in a corruption case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has accused Devendra Fadnavis of pressurising him to implicate MVA leaders. According to Anil Deshmukh, a third person contacted him and asked him to implicate former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray along with four former Mahavikas Aghadi ministers, failing which he would be arrested. Deshmukh claims that this third person was sent by Devendra Fadnavis himself.
According to sources, Anil Deshmukh is likely to contest against Devendra Fadnavis in the upcoming State Assembly elections from Nagpur South West Assembly constituency in the wake of these allegations against him. The constituency is considered a traditional bastion of the Congress party but according to sources, the Congress leadership in Nagpur has promised to exchange the constituency with the NCP (SP) if Anil Deshmukh is willing to contest against Fadnavis. Local Congress leader Praful Gudhge wants to contest against Fadnavis and has been very active in the constituency for the last 2-3 years. According to party workers who spoke to Times Network on condition of anonymity, “Congress leader and former cabinet minister Sunil Kedar is very active in the Nagpur South West constituency. He is helping Praful Gudhge contest against Fadnavis. Sunil Kedar was convicted in the old bank fraud case a few days ago and hence his membership in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was cancelled. He is currently out on bail.”
Sources also said that Anil Deshmukh is willing to contest against Devendra Fadnavis. If this happens, Anil Deshmukh will become the third person from the Deshmukh family to contest against the Fadnavis. In 2004, Anil Deshmukh’s brother and former cabinet minister Ranjit Deshmukh contested against Fadnavis but lost. After that, in the previous state assembly elections, his nephew Ashish Deshmukh contested against Fadnavis but also lost. Currently Ashish Deshmukh is in the BJP. According to BJP sources, Anil Deshmukh has come up with this strategy to prepare for the elections against Fadnavis by accusing Devendra Fadnavis and gain momentum in the constituency.
Sources also hinted that Anil Deshmukh has started his election preparations and is in discussions with top party leaders over the Nagpur South-West constituency. He is preparing to leave his traditional Katole constituency to go and live with his son. In his absence, Anil Deshmukh’s son Salil Deshmukh has been meeting people from the constituency and actively participating in meetings held at the party headquarters in Mumbai.
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