Controversial Figure Wins Jalna Municipal Election as Independent Candidate

In a surprising turn of events, Shrikant Pangarkar, linked to the 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, has won the Jalna Municipal Corporation election as an Independent candidate. Defeating the BJP's Raosaheb Dhoble, Pangarkar's victory raises eyebrows ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. His controversial past includes accusations of involvement in Lankesh's murder and a plot to bomb a music festival. As the counting of votes continues for multiple civic bodies in Maharashtra, Pangarkar's win highlights the complex political landscape in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 16, 2026, 20:12 IST

Election Results in Jalna

Shrikant Pangarkar, who is implicated in the 2017 murder of activist and journalist Gauri Lankesh, has emerged victorious in the Jalna Municipal Corporation elections held in Maharashtra, running as an Independent candidate.

Pangarkar triumphed over Bharatiya Janata Party's Raosaheb Dhoble in electoral ward number 13, garnering 2,661 votes compared to Dhoble's 2,477, according to an election official.

The counting of votes for 29 civic bodies across Maharashtra, which took place the previous day, is currently in progress.

Most major political parties, excluding Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, participated in the Jalna civic elections.

Prior to the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections in November 2024, Pangarkar had briefly joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, but his induction faced backlash, leading to a temporary halt.

Gauri Lankesh, who served as the editor of Gauri Lankesh Patrike and was a vocal critic of Hindutva groups, was murdered outside her residence in Bengaluru on the night of September 5, 2017, by a group of assailants as she returned from work.

Pangarkar is accused of facilitating the acquisition of firearms and participating in a training camp related to the murder.

In September 2024, the Karnataka High Court granted bail to him and three others involved in the case.

Previously, Pangarkar was affiliated with the undivided Shiv Sena and served as a municipal councillor in Jalna from 2001 to 2006. After being dropped from the party during the 2011 civic elections, he joined the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.

He was also implicated in a plot to bomb the Sunburn music festival in Pune in 2017 and was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad in Mumbai in 2018.

In August 2024, the Bombay High Court granted him bail, stating that the alleged conspiracy to bomb the festival was never carried out.