Mumbai, October 20: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has cancelled the appointment of Shrikant Pangarkar, an accused in the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, within the Shiv Sena, following public backlash.

Shinde, the party's chief leader, issued an order on Sunday declaring all district-level appointments of Pangarkar in Jalna as "null and void." "Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Chief Leader of Shiv Sena has ordered cancellation of any order of appointment of Shrikant Pangarkar. All orders issued at the district level issued by the party in Jalna stands null and void," the order read. Shrikant Pangarkar, Accused in Journalist Gauri Lankesh Murder Case, Joins Eknath Shinde-Led Shiv Sena in Maharashtra's Jalna.

This comes within two days after Pangarkar was re-inducted into the Shiv Sena and made the party's poll campaign in-charge in Jalna. Pangarkar, a former Shiv Sena corporator, rejoined the party on Friday. Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her house in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017.

The police had arrested 18 individuals in connection with the murder, including Pangarkar, who was taken into custody in August 2018. The Karnataka High Court granted him bail in September this year after years of legal proceedings. Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Shiv Sena Pushes for Eknath Shinde as Chief Ministerial Face Ahead of Vidhan Sabha Polls.

The Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held on November 20, with results to be announced on November 23. The current Assembly's term ends on November 26.

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