In a shocking incident just hours before the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, BJP candidate Bhushan Shingne faced a violent assault. The attack occurred late Wednesday in the Gorewada area of Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Police Register Case with Serious Charges
Nagpur police swiftly responded by lodging a case at the Gittikhadan Police Station on Thursday. The First Information Report includes multiple serious sections. Police charged the accused with rioting and attempt to murder under Section 307. They also added charges for using obscene language under Section 294. Authorities confirmed that an investigation into the violent incident is currently underway.
BJP Leaders Describe "Life-Threatening Attack"
Bharatiya Janata Party leaders characterized the assault as extremely dangerous. They stated that Shingne was fortunate to survive what they called a "life-threatening attack." According to party accounts, Shingne visited Gorewada to meet a party worker after receiving troubling information. He had learned that anti-social elements were attempting to disrupt the election atmosphere by allegedly distributing money.
Nagpur BJP Chief Details the Violent Confrontation
Dayashankar Tiwari, the Nagpur BJP chief, provided detailed information about the attack. Tiwari claimed that more than one hundred people assaulted Shingne and other BJP supporters. The violence erupted when they reached the worker's house where a large crowd had already gathered outside. Tiwari expressed grave concern about the implications for democratic processes.
Speaking to reporters, Tiwari emphasized the dangerous precedent. "Such incidents would reduce politics to the rule of goons if not checked," he stated firmly. "Using violence, hooliganism and intimidation to suppress ordinary candidates and win elections by unfair means is wrong. This represents a direct attack on democracy itself."
Political Reactions and Hospitalization
The incident drew immediate reactions from senior political figures across party lines. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed serious concern about the attack. Gadkari stated he was on his way to meet Shingne personally. He called the incident "extremely unfortunate and condemnable."
Gadkari highlighted Nagpur's traditional commitment to peaceful elections. "Differences of opinion can exist, but Nagpur has always followed a tradition of peaceful elections," he noted. "During elections, we maintain decorum, and after elections, our relationships improve. Such incidents should be avoided completely. The police must take strict action against those responsible."
Maharashtra Chief Minister Points Finger at Congress
After casting his vote in Nagpur, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made strong allegations. Fadnavis stated that Shingne was attacked "by the people from the Congress." He confirmed that Shingne had sustained serious injuries during the assault.
Fadnavis condemned what he described as anti-democratic tactics. "When they cannot win an election, resorting to such acts is like smearing black ink on democracy," he asserted. "The people of Nagpur will give a fitting reply to them through their votes."
Aftermath and Continued Tensions
Following the violent confrontation, party workers admitted Shingne to Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital. Several other BJP workers also sustained injuries during the scuffle. The incident created ongoing tension in the area.
Tiwari reported that tensions continued even after the initial attack. He alleged that when Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule visited Shingne's family Thursday morning, people again gathered outside the house. According to Tiwari, they began protesting during this visit, demonstrating that the situation remained volatile.
The assault on Bhushan Shingne, who is contesting from Ward No. 11 of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, has raised serious questions about election security. With municipal elections proceeding, authorities face increased pressure to ensure peaceful voting and prevent further violence.
