Politics in Maharashtra has once again heated up, this time due to a viral video of Sanjay Gaikwad, an MLA from the Eknath Shinde faction, in which he is seen assaulting a canteen employee. The incident occurred at the Akashwani MLA Hostel in Mumbai. It is alleged that he got into a scuffle with the employee on Tuesday night after being served bad food.
The entire incident was recorded on CCTV and as soon as the video surfaced on social media, it created an uproar in political circles. Following the incident, both Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde have called the MLA's behavior inappropriate and expressed their displeasure.
MLA Gaikwad's Claim
After the video went viral, MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, in his defense, said that he was served rotten and poisonous food. He told the media, "As soon as I took the first bite, I smelled a foul odor. The food was completely rotten. I protested and the incident happened then."
When asked about apologizing, he clearly stated, "I will not apologize, and I have no regrets about what I did. I was about to eat poison, others cannot understand this."
Gaikwad also said that this was his personal decision and the party had no role in it. "No one asked me to do this, neither the party nor anyone else. The question of whether the party is with me or not doesn't arise," he added. However, he did say that he would try to appease the Chief Minister.
CM Fadnavis Takes a Strong Stance
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reacted bly to the incident. Posting on the social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter), he called MLA Sanjay Gaikwad's behavior completely inappropriate.
Fadnavis said that such incidents damage the image of all MLAs among the public and send the message that public representatives are misusing their power.
He called the whole matter serious and has demanded an inquiry by the Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ram Shinde, and strict action if necessary. The Chief Minister has also asked the Speaker of the Assembly, Rahul Narwekar, and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde to take cognizance of the matter and take appropriate steps.
Fadnavis emphasized that such conduct by public representatives casts a shadow on the credibility of democratic institutions and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
Deputy CM Shinde Offers Advice
Deputy CM and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) chief Eknath Shinde also reacted to the matter. He admitted that the food served to Gaikwad was indeed bad, which caused him to vomit and become angry.
However, Shinde clarified that he does not support any kind of violence. He said that if there is a problem, there is a legal recourse, but assaulting an employee is completely wrong.
Shinde also said that if there is any problem with the canteen system, it should be investigated and legal action should be taken if necessary, but raising a hand cannot be justified under any circumstances.
His comments came at a time when the opposition is attacking the government on this issue and is talking about morality.
The Opposition Finds an Issue
This entire episode has once again heated up the politics of Maharashtra. While the opposition is calling this an example of misuse of power, the government is also being forced to respond.
MLA Sanjay Gaikwad's statement that he has no regrets and will not apologize is further fueling the political controversy.
The opposition is constantly demanding disciplinary action against the MLA and that he be expelled from the party.
