The victim, Shivaji Bhalerao, whose wife Sarika Bhalerao is contesting the January 15 civic election on a Congress ticket, was seated outside his home in Ward No. 1 when six assailants arrived on motorcycles and assaulted him, a police official said
Local residents rushed to the victim's aid, prompting the attackers to flee the scene. Representational Pic/File
Ahead of the Maharashtra local body elections, a Congress candidate’s husband was seriously injured after being attacked in Maharashtra’s Nanded city, just two days before elections to the local municipal corporation, police said on Wednesday, reported the PTI.
The victim, Shivaji Bhalerao, whose wife Sarika Bhalerao is contesting the January 15 civic election on a Congress ticket, was seated outside his home in Ward No. 1 when six assailants arrived on motorcycles and assaulted him, a police official said.
Local residents rushed to Bhalerao’s aid, prompting the attackers to flee the scene.
He sustained serious injuries in the attack and was immediately taken to hospital. Doctors later reported that his condition was stable, as per the PTI.
Heavy police deployment in city
The incident occurred despite heightened security in Nanded, where heavy police deployment has been in place ahead of the municipal elections.
Congress Member of Parliament Ravindra Chavan condemned the attack and called for immediate police protection for the Bhalerao family, according to the PTI.
BJP expels 22 members for anti-party activities in Nanded ahead of civic polls
Meanwhile, the BJP has expelled 22 members in Nanded for anti-party activities ahead of the Maharashtra local body elections scheduled for January 15, 2026, reported the PTI.
According to a party statement, several aspirants who were denied BJP tickets switched allegiance to rival parties and filed nominations against official BJP candidates.
Some members campaigned for rivals
The statement added that some of the expelled members were also found actively campaigning for opposing contestants, further undermining party unity, as per the PTI.
The expulsion orders were issued by the city unit president, Amarnath Rajurkar.
Ticket aspirants prompt action
The BJP reportedly received a large number of applications from aspirants seeking party tickets for the municipal elections. Many applicants waited until the final stages for the party’s decision, and several disgruntled aspirants joined other political outfits. In response, the BJP initiated disciplinary action to safeguard party interests ahead of the polls, according to the PTI.
(with PTI inputs)
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