In a disturbing incident ahead of the municipal corporation elections, the campaign office of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Mayur Sonawane was deliberately set on fire in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the political landscape of the city.
Early Morning Attack on Campaign Hub
The fire was started around 4:30 am on Wednesday outside Sonawane's campaign office located in the Kailashnagar area. At the time of the incident, approximately 10 to 12 party workers were sleeping inside the premises. The unidentified suspect set ablaze cloth and campaign material that was part of a pandal erected outside the office.
Vigilant neighbours, who were drawing water from a nearby tap, noticed smoke billowing from the site. They immediately raised an alarm, which proved crucial in alerting the sleeping party workers. Thanks to this timely intervention, all individuals inside managed to evacuate safely before the flames could spread further into the structure.
Police Investigation and Political Response
Firefighters were promptly called to the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control, preventing major structural damage. While no injuries were reported, police confirmed that some campaign material and furniture were damaged in the fire.
Candidate Mayur Sonawane soon approached the Jinsi police station to lodge a formal complaint. Speaking on the case, Jinsi inspector Shivaji Budhvant stated, "Based on the complaint, we have registered an FIR against the unidentified suspect. The incident was captured on the CCTV camera installed outside the office. The suspect, on the pretext of lighting a cigarette, can be seen setting the fabric of the pandal on fire. We will identify and take appropriate action against him."
Addressing the media, Sonawane expressed defiance, stating that his party had prepared for the civic polls over the past five years by focusing solely on development issues and engaging voters without personal attacks on rivals. "This seems to be an attempt to scare us. We will not be intimidated. We will respond within the framework of law, and continue our campaign with confidence," he asserted.
Condemnation and Heightened Security
NCP district president Abhijit Deshmukh strongly condemned the act of arson, emphasizing that such tactics would not weaken the morale of the party's workers. He added that the incident would only strengthen their resolve, and party workers would now campaign with greater intensity.
In the wake of the attack, police officials said security around prominent campaign offices in the city was being reviewed. Further investigative action is expected to follow as authorities scrutinize the CCTV footage to identify the perpetrator.
The incident has cast a shadow over the election campaign in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, raising concerns about the safety of political workers and the integrity of the electoral process. The police have assured swift action to ensure such events are not repeated.
