Clash Between Awhad and Padalkar Supporters Rocks Maharashtra Assembly; CM Fadnavis Orders Action

Tensions flared in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Wednesday after a physical altercation broke out between supporters of NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad and BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar within the Vidhan Bhavan premises. A video of Nitin Deshmukh, a supporter of Awhad, being assaulted has since gone viral, sparking political uproar.

Following the incident, Jitendra Awhad made serious allegations, claiming that “goons were sent to Vidhan Bhavan to kill him,” and questioned the safety of legislators within the constitutional premises. "If MLAs are not safe inside the Assembly, this is deeply worrying for democracy," Awhad said.

CM Fadnavis Condemns the Incident

Responding swiftly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the violence, calling it “completely unacceptable” within the sacred space of the legislature. "This is a constitutional institution where respected members and the Speaker are present. Such actions are an insult to its dignity," he stated.

Fadnavis said he has urged both the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Council to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and ensure strict action against those responsible.

Reactions from Key Leaders

Awhad formally lodged a complaint with Assembly Speaker and Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, demanding an impartial probe and heightened security for legislators.

On his part, Gopichand Padalkar acknowledged that the man seen in the viral video is his supporter but labeled the controversy a “closed matter” after submitting his report to the Speaker. He alleged that Nitin Deshmukh, the assaulted individual, had verbally abused him. "I don’t know him personally, but I’ve informed the Assembly Speaker," Padalkar said.

Opposition Slams Government Over Safety Concerns

Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also weighed in, demanding a high-level investigation. “If the safety of elected representatives is compromised inside Vidhan Bhavan, it threatens the very foundation of democracy,” he warned.

Awaiting Speaker's Decision

The focus now shifts to the Assembly Speaker, who is expected to take decisive action following the Chief Minister’s directions. With political temperatures rising, this incident could have wider implications for legislative decorum and inter-party relations in Maharashtra.