Maharashtra’s political theatre witnessed a predictable denouement on Tuesday when Food and Civil Supplies minister Dhananjay Munde tendered his resignation. While Munde cited a call of conscience and medical advice in his letter, the truth is that his departure was not a voluntary act of moral awakening.

It was, instead, the culmination of mounting public outrage and political compulsions. His exit came only after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis explicitly demanded his resignation following consultations with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Munde, a prominent leader of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), had ample opportunities to step down gracefully.

The most opportune moment was when his close aide Valmik Karad was implicated in the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district on December 9 last. Though no evidence has surfaced publicly linking Munde to the crime, the involvement of his trusted associate cast a long shadow on the minister’s integrity.

In politics, perception matters as much as reality, a truth often encapsulated in the adage that Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion. By choosing to cling to office, Munde not only damaged his own reputation but also embarrassed the ruling coalition. Chief Minister Fadnavis, too, cannot escape scrutiny. His delayed action smacks of political expediency rather than principled governance.

By hesitating to assert his authority earlier, he appeared more concerned about maintaining harmony within the fragile coalition than upholding public trust. It was only the circulation of the horrific video of Deshmukh’s murder, showing the sarpanch being mercilessly beaten and even urinated upon, that made inaction untenable. The chilling footage left no room for half-measures or evasions.

History offers a grim parallel. The LTTE’s decision to film the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi at its chief Veluppillai Prabhakaran’s behest inadvertently sealed the fate of the conspirators. The camera that captured the killing became crucial evidence, exposing the mastermind behind the act.

Similarly, the viral video of Deshmukh’s murder became the smoking gun that forced the political establishment into damage control. Munde’s resignation is a textbook case of convenience masquerading as conscience. Had he quit on his own accord when the scandal first erupted, he could have claimed the moral high ground and possibly returned to office after a clean chit. Instead, he clung to power until circumstances left him with no choice.

The entire episode underscores how political calculations often trump ethical considerations in Indian public life. Ultimately, it was neither conscience nor courage but cold pragmatism that dictated the decisions of all the key players — Munde, Fadnavis, and Pawar. The public, however, is unlikely to be fooled by such orchestrated morality plays. It’s another reminder that in politics, conscience awakens only when there is no other escape.