Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’s political landscape heated up—literally—as a suspicious fire gutted NCP hopeful Abhijit Deshmukh’s campaign office, igniting charges of opposition mischief.
Sparks flew from what appeared to be an electrical fault, but the intensity of the blaze raised eyebrows. The well-stocked office, brimming with election memorabilia, was obliterated in under an hour despite frantic firefighting efforts.
Deshmukh, surveying the wreckage at dawn, pulled no punches. ‘The opposition’s playbook is predictable: when you can’t beat them fairly, burn them down,’ he charged, calling for central agency intervention.
Neighbors reported hearing shattering glass before the flames erupted, adding fuel to conspiracy theories. No one was inside at the time, averting a potential tragedy.
As probes intensify, Deshmukh has mobilized his network for rapid recovery. Donations are pouring in, and makeshift offices are popping up across the constituency.
This episode arrives amid a barrage of campaign hostilities, from poster wars to verbal spars. Analysts warn it could polarize voters further, benefiting the aggrieved party.
Deshmukh’s message is clear: resilience over retaliation. ‘From these ashes, a stronger NCP will rise,’ he proclaimed, setting the tone for the battles ahead. The coming days will test whether truth emerges from the smoke.