Sack Mhetre: BJP tells governor

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Monday, demanded the immediate sacking of Minister of State Siddharam Mhetre from the Cabinet after he was booked for murder in a case in Akkalkot, Solapur.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Monday, demanded the immediate sacking of Minister of State Siddharam Mhetre from the Cabinet after he was booked for murder in a case in Akkalkot, Solapur.

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A BJP party worker, Bhimanna Kore (50), was killed in a firing attempt on BJP candidate Siddharamappa Patil’s rally that was allegedly carried out by Congress workers at Akkalkot in Solapur district, on Saturday.

Patil from the BJP and the accused allegedly had a longstanding rivalry.

The Akkalkot police registered a case of murder against Mhetre and 27 other people on Sunday evening.

Mhetre has denied his involvement.

A delegation of senior BJP leaders met Governor S.C. Jamir at Raj Bhavan on Monday and submitted a petition requesting that Mhetre be sacked.

The petition said that the BJP candidate from Akkalkot was having an interaction with villagers when a group of Congress party workers carrying weapons attacked him.

“This was an attempt to intimidate the voters. The delegation requests that since the police had charged Mhetre under IPC (Indian Penal Code) section 302 (murder), he should be sacked immediately,” the petition handed over to the Governor said.

The delegation also requested that the Election Commissioner visit Akkalkot, special paramiliarty forces be deployed for a free and fair elections there and the BJP candidate be provided protection.

The governor assured the delegation that he would take up the matter with the chief minister.