Shrikant Pangarkar, an accused in the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh in 2017, won as a corporator from the Jalna Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra.
Pangarkar had contested as an Independent candidate from electoral ward No. 13. He defeated his nearest rival, Raosaheb Dhoble of the BJP. Pangarkar secured 2,661 votes, while Dhoble polled 2,477 votes, according to a poll official.
Except for Shiv Sena, almost all major political parties had fielded their candidates against Pangarkar.
Pangarkar had served as a member of the Jalna Municipal Council from 2001 to 2006, when the Shiv Sena was still undivided. After being denied a party ticket in 2011, he joined the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.
Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her residence in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. The killing had sparked widespread 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.
—With PTI inputs
