Srikanth Pankarker, an accused in the murder case of journalist Gauri Lankesh, has won the Jalna Municipal Corporation election. Pankarker contested the polls as an independent candidate and defeated candidates from the BJP and other political parties to secure victory in Ward No. 13 with a margin of 2,621 votes.
The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena had not fielded a candidate in this ward.
Pankarker’s victory comes while he is facing trial in the Gauri Lankesh murder case. Soon after the results were declared, videos showing him celebrating with supporters went viral on social media, triggering widespread debate and criticism.
Speaking to the media after his win, Pankarker claimed that no charges have been framed against him so far and that legal proceedings in the case are still underway.
Background of the Case
Journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her residence in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on September 5, 2017. The murder sparked nationwide protests and condemnation. Srikanth Pankarker was named as one of the accused in the case.
On September 4, 2024, the Karnataka High Court granted him bail.
Political Background
- Between 2001 and 2006, Pankarker served as a corporator in the Jalna Municipal Council representing the undivided Shiv Sena.
- In 2011, after being denied a party ticket, he joined the right-wing Hindu Janajagruti Samiti.
- In August 2018, he was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) following the seizure of crude bombs and weapons from various locations in the state.
- Ahead of the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Pankarker joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, but following widespread criticism, he was later expelled from the party.
Pankarker’s electoral victory has reignited serious political, legal, and ethical debates, with opposition parties and civil society groups questioning the implications of an accused in a high-profile murder case being elected to public office.
