Opposition demands Mahadev Jankar’s resignation after expose

Nagpur: A video exposé allegedly showing minister of dairy development Mahadev Jankar trying to put pressure on an election officer, rocked the legislature on Tuesday, with the opposition demanding his resignation from the cabinet. Though chief minister Devendra Fadnavis tried to defend his minister, the opposition did not listen to it. Finally, both the houses were adjourned for the day on the issue. Congress leader Vijay Vadettiwar alleged that Jankar flouted code of conduct of the election and tried to misuse his position as the minister. “He should be sacked from the cabinet. Despite a complaint being registered against him, the government has not taken any action against Jankar,”’ Mr Vadettiwar said.

Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said that the CM’s clean chit to the minister is too early. “This is a murder of democracy. This would set a very bad example before the people. This is nothing but corruption. The entire matter should be inquired and till then the minister should resign,” Chavan added.  

Mr Fadnavis said that the election commission has served a notice to the minister seeking an explanation. “The minister has said that he did not try to put pressure on the election officer. A non-cognisable case has been registered against him. The probe will decide if he was guilty,” the CM said. However, the opposition was not satisfied with the reply and walked out of the house. NCP leader Jayant Patil said that Jankar has threatened the official and still the CM has given him clean chit. “The minister has misused his position and has no moral right to assume the office,” he said. In the reply, the CM said that the candidate had fielded two forms for the election one from Congress and other as an independent. “The minister called the election officer and told him that the candidate did not want to contest on the Congress ticket. His independent form was accepted by the election office,” he explained.

Jankar has come under severe criticism from the Opposition after he was seen on camera trying to exert pressure an election official over the phone to reject the nomination of a Congress candidate. The Congress has filed a complaint with the state election commission against Jankar. Meanwhile, Jankar claimed that he was speaking with a lawyer and not with any election official. In the controversial video caught by a news channel, Jankar is seen speaking over the cell phone and instructing someone (allegedly election officer) to cancel the Congress candidate’s nomination.

Timeline of scandal:

• A video about dairy development minister Mahadev Jankar pressurising an election officer went viral on December 5. He was asking the officer to allot a candidate to cancel the Congress candidate’s nomination and keep his nomination as an Independent in the Vadsa Municipal Council poll in Gadchiroli.
• The state election commissioner issued a notice to Jankar seeking his explanation on December 5.
• Jankar filed his reply on December 7 to the commissioner’s office through his lawyer.
• However, the EC is dissatisfied with Mr Jankar’s reply and has asked the Gadchiroli collector to submit a detailed report.
• A non cognisable offence has been registered against Jankar by an officer from the district collector's office.
• The election in Vadsa council has been cancelled by the election commission.