Mumbai, March 26 (NationPress) The NCP's tribal leader and Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration Minister, Narhari Zirwal, finds himself in a precarious situation following the circulation of an allegedly explicit video featuring him with a transgender individual on social media. This incident not only puts Zirwal in the spotlight but also tests the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP as the party grapples with a series of controversies.

The viral footage has prompted a wave of condemnation from the Opposition, who assert that the individual depicted is indeed Minister Zirwal and are calling for his resignation.

Currently, there has been no public statement from Minister Zirwal regarding this controversial video. Likewise, the NCP has remained silent on this embarrassing situation involving their minister.

Zirwal represents the Dindori constituency in Nashik district and it is reported that this video is approximately seven months old. He becomes the fourth NCP leader to encounter difficulties in recent times, following former ministers Dhananjay Munde and Manikrao Kokate, as well as Rupali Chakankar, the former chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission.

Although the NCP leadership has yet to respond, the aggressive stance of the Opposition has led to speculation within state political circles about potential actions against Zirwal.

If disciplinary measures are taken, Zirwal would join the ranks of Dhananjay Munde and Manikrao Kokate, both of whom have already lost their ministerial positions.

Attention is now focused on the responses from Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Recently, a clerk in the FDA department at the Mantralaya in Mumbai was apprehended while accepting a bribe, allegedly demanding money to renew a chemist's canceled license.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted a sting operation within Zirwal's ministerial office, resulting in two arrests. Zirwal faced significant backlash during this entire incident.

Previously, Dhananjay Munde, a close associate of the late Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar, resigned due to alleged connections with individuals implicated in the murder of Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. He has been striving for a Cabinet reinstatement for the past six months.

Manikrao Kokate lost his position as agriculture minister after being convicted by a court for document forgery related to acquiring a government flat.

Just last week, NCP leader Rupali Chakankar stepped down as Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission amidst growing controversy over her alleged associations with a self-styled godman, Ashok Kharat, who is accused of multiple rapes. The party is also contemplating her resignation from the role of president of the NCP women’s wing.

The ongoing succession of controversies among party leaders has rendered the task of managing these crises a formidable challenge for NCP National President and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.

A senior party member indicated that these controversies—including the Narhari Zirwal video, Rupali Chakankar’s resignation, and the situations involving former ministers Dhananjay Munde and Manikrao Kokate—pose a significant threat to the image of being 'clean and efficient' that Ajit Pawar sought to cultivate.

The NCP leadership now faces a critical challenge to discipline these leaders while maintaining the support of the party’s base and safeguarding the legacy of the late Ajit Pawar.