Mumbai:Shrikant Pangarkar, an accused in the 2017 murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, has won the Jalna Municipal Corporation election from ward 13 as an Independent candidate.

Shrikant Pangarkar, one of the accused in the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, was elected as a corporator in the Jalna Municipal Corporation elections in Maharashtra on Friday. Pangarkar contested as an Independent candidate from electoral ward number 13 and defeated BJP candidate Raosaheb Dhoble.

According to election officials, Pangarkar secured 2,661 votes, while Dhoble received 2,477 votes, resulting in a narrow margin of victory. Counting of votes for 29 civic bodies across Maharashtra, which went to polls a day earlier, is currently underway.

Except for the Shiv Sena, most major political parties had fielded candidates against Pangarkar in the ward. Despite this, he managed to emerge victorious.

Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her residence in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017, a killing that sparked nationwide outrage. In August 2018, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Pangarkar under provisions of the Explosives Act, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court on September 4, 2024.

Pangarkar had earlier served as a member of the Jalna Municipal Council between 2001 and 2006, during the period when the Shiv Sena was undivided. After being denied a party ticket in 2011, he joined the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.

Meanwhile, overall trends indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party is heading towards gaining control of the Jalna Municipal Corporation as results continue to be declared.