MLAs’ supporters exchange blows in Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan lobby

Supporters of Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad and BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar clashed in the lobby of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly building (Vidhan Bhavan) late Thursday evening, shouting, “You think I am afraid of you?”

According to eyewitness accounts, Nitin Deshmukh, a worker associated with Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad, was beaten up by supporters of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar. Abuses were exchanged by both sides before security guards intervened and brought the situation under control.

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However, the incident — captured on mobile phones — had already gone viral on social media by then, prompting strong outrage from the opposition over the involvement of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and his supporters.

After the incident, Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad said, “An attempt was made to kill me.”

Later, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who heads the Home Ministry, reacted to the incident, saying, “The incident that happened is not right. It is not right to fight in the Legislative Assembly. This area comes under the jurisdiction of the Assembly Speaker. Hence, the Speaker should take note of the incident. I have requested the Speaker to take strict action. This is not befitting the Legislative Assembly and therefore action must be taken.”

According to political sources, BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and MLA Jitendra Awhad had an argument on Wednesday over opening car doors. A video of the two abusing each other went viral around the same time.

Over the last week, Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad and BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar have been abusing each other on social media, which eventually resulted in the fisticuffs late Thursday evening, sources said.

On learning about the incident, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded action against those involved. “The Chief Minister and the Home Minister should take action against them. Vidhan Bhavan is a holy temple. If such a fight happened there, it is wrong. If people’s representatives are being pushed and beaten, it is wrong. How did these people get inside the Vidhan Bhavan amid such tight security? Who gave them a pass?” Thackeray remarked.