Sanjay Gaikwad: Making cop wash vomit to seeking Rahul Gandhi's tongue, a seasoned controversialist

Sanjay Gaikwad, the Shinde Sena legislator who assaulted the canteen staff at Akashwani MLA hostel in Mumbai, is known for making inflammatory statements, aggressive actions, and courting controversies. Gaikwad, who is from Buldana, won the last election by a margin of just 841 votes.

 

According to local media reports, following his victory, Gaikwad had claimed that people were paid ₹2,000 per vote, which affected his victory margin. In addition, he claimed they had liquor and mutton parties to lure voters. He refused to express regret for the statement after it kicked up a row.

 

Last year, Gaikwad had declared an ₹11 lakh reward to anyone who "slashed Rahul Gandhi's tongue and presented it to him" following the Congress leader's statements about reservations during his trip to the USA. He later apologised.

 

Gaikwad also made news at the beginning of the year over the tiger claws he wore within a locket around his neck. It was alleged that Gaikwad had participated in a tiger hunt in 1987, reported Marathi daily Pudhari.

 

 

One comment Gaikwad made about the state police's functioning had irked Chief Minister Fadnavis himself. Gaikwad had said that the police department is so corrupt that if they seize 'booty' worth ₹50 lakh, only ₹50,000 is brought on record. He had called the Maharashtra Police the "most incompetent department." On one occasion, he had asked a policeman to wash his car. When asked why, he replied that the policeman had vomited inside the vehicle.

 

Chief Minister Fadnavis personally took note of Gaikwad's behaviour yesterday and has indicated that appropriate action will be taken against him by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Gaikwad has so far remained firm on his action of assaulting the canteen staff. He justified it, saying he is a "true Shiv Sainik" and replied "in Shiv Sena style." "I had my first bite and it tasted sour; then I almost vomited. I then smelled the dal, and it smelt awful. If an MLA is getting this kind of food, imagine what kind of food is being served to commoners who visit from rural areas of Maharashtra," said Gaikwad.

India