India, April 30 -- The widow of slain Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was defeated in the by-election to the post of sarpanch, which fell vacant when her husband was murdered in December 2024. The outcome indicates that Minakshi did not benefit from a sympathy wave. Minakshi lost by 92 votes on Wednesday.

Santosh Deshmukh was brutally murdered and his body dumped by a highway in Kej tehsil in Beed district. He was killed allegedly by a close aide of Walmik Karad, a close associate of former state minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde. He was murdered for foiling an extortion bid at a local power company.

Minakshi was pitted against Swarupanand Deshmukh in the by-election. She polled 822 votes, while Swarupanand bagged 914 votes. Of...