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The political clash has once again raised questions about decorum within the legislative complex, prompting calls for accountability
The incident comes a day after both the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) had a heated argument outside the Vidhan Bhavan gates. (News18)
A day after a violent scuffle broke out between supporters of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad inside the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai Police has arrested two individuals in connection with the assault. The incident, which took place on Thursday, has triggered political outrage and a police probe, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assuring swift action.
According to police officials, Nitin Deshmukh and Rishikesh Takle, reportedly affiliated with the BJP and NCP, respectively, were taken into custody late Thursday night. A case has been registered at the Marine Drive Police Station.
What Led To The Clash?
The tension between Awhad and Padalkar began a day before the incident when Padalkar was giving a media byte and Awhad passed by, allegedly calling him a “Mangalsutra chor” (mangalsutra thief). This remark reportedly didn’t sit well with Padalkar. The following day, Padalkar confronted Awhad near the legislature entrance, which led to a violent altercation between their supporters soon after.
Raj Thackeray Condemns Clash
MNS chief Raj Thackeray strongly condemned the recent clash inside Maharashtra’s Vidhan Bhavan, calling it a shameful reflection of the current political atmosphere. Referring to a viral video of the brawl between the ruling party and opposition workers, Thackeray said, “I watched a video of a fierce brawl between the workers of the ruling party’s MLAs and those of the opposition party in the premises of the Vidhan Bhavan. Seeing this video, I genuinely wondered, ‘What has become of our Maharashtra?'” His comments came amid growing concern over rising political hostility and the erosion of decorum within legislative spaces.
काल विधानभवन परिसरात सत्ताधारी पक्षाचे आमदार आणि विरोधी पक्षातील आमदार यांच्या कार्यकर्त्यांच्यात तुफान हाणामारी झाल्याची चित्रफीत पाहिली. ही चित्रफीत पाहून मला खरंच प्रश्न पडला, ‘ काय अवस्था झालीये आपल्या महाराष्ट्राची ?’सत्ता हे साधन असावं साध्य नाही याचा विसर पडल्यामुळे…
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) July 18, 2025
Thackeray went on to criticise the political leadership across parties, stating that the loss of ideological grounding has led to the inclusion of unruly elements who are used to target senior leaders with disgraceful language, only for the same parties to later lecture on political ethics. “Power is meant to serve, not to dominate. When that is forgotten, hypocrisy takes over. I believe the people of Maharashtra have started to see through it. I ask the Marathi people – in whose hands have you entrusted Maharashtra?” he said, adding that such incidents raise serious concerns about the future of governance in the state.
Background To The Brawl
The physical confrontation inside the legislature complex escalated after a verbal spat between the two leaders over a car door incident. On Wednesday, Padalkar exited his car and allegedly slammed the door shut near Awhad. The NCP MLA claimed the act was deliberate and dangerous, sparking a heated exchange of words between the two in full public view.
On Thursday, tensions boiled over. A video of the clash inside the ground floor lobby of the Vidhan Bhavan has gone viral, showing supporters from both sides punching, kicking, and hurling abuses at each other. The chaos was eventually brought under control by security personnel, who detained one individual from each group on the spot.
The incident was reported to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who has sought a detailed report and promised appropriate action. Meanwhile, Padalkar expressed regret over the incident, telling reporters, “This is an unfortunate incident… I express my regret and apologise.”
The political clash has once again raised questions about decorum within the legislative complex, prompting calls for accountability and restraint among public representatives.
Yesha Kotak, Special Correspondent, CNN-News18, specialises in crime, court and investigative reporting. She describes herself as a print reporter in TV. With six years of experience in journalism, she has been…Read More
Yesha Kotak, Special Correspondent, CNN-News18, specialises in crime, court and investigative reporting. She describes herself as a print reporter in TV. With six years of experience in journalism, she has been… Read More
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