By Krishna Kumar PUBLISHED: 18:20 EST, 26 August 2013 | UPDATED: 18:25 EST, 26 August 2013 In the wake of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar's murder in Pune and a photojournalist's gang-rape in Mumbai, a regional language news channel in Maharashtra carried the pictures of chief minister Prithiviraj Chavan, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and home minister R R Patil with the caption 'Murda' (dead). It was a strong statement but one that aptly summed up the general sentiment against the government - in fact, the entire political class - across the state. The political leadership seems simply incapable of doing anything to stem the rot that the state had slipped into.
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NCP-Congress coalition feels the pressure mount over high-profile crimes
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Opposition parties turn on the heat claiming there is 'no law and order in the state'
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Political parties scramble to limit the impact on their electoral campaigns
NCP
This nervousness is betrayed by the fact that the @placeholder, which until two years ago was flexing its muscles and planning to go it alone in the next elections, seems to have changed its mind.
NCP
"Thanks to these leaders, the @placeholder's image has taken a beating and that could hurt its prospects in the polls," Pendse said.
Prithiviraj Chavan
@placeholder has also been constrained in his task of providing good governance from elements within his own party.
Prithiviraj Chavan
Since @placeholder took over as the chief minister, there have been at least three attempts to unseat him.