Gauri Lankesh Murder Accused Shrikant Pangarkar Wins Jalna Municipal Election

Shrikant Pangarkar, accused in the 2017 murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, won the Jalna Municipal Corporation election from Ward 13 in Maharashtra as an independent candidate. He defeated BJP rival Raosaheb Dhoble by a margin of 2,621 votes. The Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, did not field a candidate in this ward. Pangarkar, who was granted bail in September 2024, has a history in local politics and faces ongoing legal proceedings related to the murder and an arms haul case. His victory has sparked debate on criminal allegations and electoral participation.