Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh was injured after stones were hurled at his car by some unidentified people in Nagpur on Monday evening.
The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) leader was returning to Katol after attending a poll meeting in Narkhed when his car was attacked near Belphata on the Jalalkheda Road at 8 pm.
According to reports, a stone shattered the car’s window and struck Deshmukh on his head. He suffered serious injuries and was immediately rushed to the Katol Civil Hospital, police said.
A video of the incident showed blood dripping from the former minister’s head and blood stains all over his white kurta.
"An investigation has begun. Police are trying to identify those responsible for the attack," Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police Harssh Poddar said.
The incident occurred on the last day of campaigning for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections. Deshmukh's son Salil Deshmukh is contesting from Katol assembly constituency on the NCP (SP) ticket against BJP's Charansingh Thakur.
The NCP(SP) condemned the incident and termed it as an example for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
The Congress also condemned the attack and said the culprits should be arrested soon. The party also sought the intervention of the Election Commission.
"Law and order in the state has deteriorated and for fair and transparent elections, the Election Commission should intervene immediately and take steps to ensure that law and order remains smooth," said senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat.