MUMBAI: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has convened a core committee meeting in Mumbai on Monday to deliberate on the political future of Maharashtra’s Food and Drugs Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal. The move comes after a clerk posted in his office was caught allegedly accepting a ₹35,000 bribe inside Mantralaya.
Party leaders are expected to evaluate the seriousness of the allegations and decide their next course of action amid growing Opposition pressure demanding Zirwal’s resignation.
On Friday, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Rajendra Dherange, a clerk deputed to Zirwal’s office, while he was allegedly taking ₹35,000 from a chemist in exchange for revoking the suspension of a licence. The arrest took place within the state secretariat, escalating the political controversy. Dherange, originally an employee of the state food and civil supplies department, was on deputation to the minister’s office and is from Zirwal’s Dindori constituency in Nashik district.
Senior NCP leaders acknowledged that the incident has placed the party in a difficult situation. “The core committee will examine the facts and discuss Zirwal’s position. Since the arrest occurred inside his office, the Opposition is directly targeting him. As of now, there is no evidence linking him to the alleged bribe, but the leadership will take a considered decision,” a senior party functionary said.
Zirwal has denied any involvement, stating that he was not in Mumbai at the time of the ACB operation. “This is an unfortunate incident. I will not protect anyone. If someone is guilty, they must be punished,” he said, adding that he would resign if any charges against him are proven.
The controversy comes at a sensitive juncture for the NCP, which has already witnessed the resignation of two ministers from the Mahayuti government in the past 14 months.
In March 2025, Dhananjay Munde stepped down after his election manager was arrested in connection with the December 2024 murder of Beed sarpanch Dhananjay Deshmukh. Earlier, Manikrao Kokate resigned following his conviction in a 1995 cheating and forgery case. While Munde was replaced by senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal, Kokate’s ministerial berth remains vacant.
Against this backdrop, party leaders are cautious about the potential fallout of another resignation. “If a third NCP minister is forced to step down, it could have serious political consequences for the party within the ruling coalition,” a senior leader remarked.
