Nation

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Mumbai is abuzz with controversy after a video emerged showing Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Sanjay Gaikwad assaulting a canteen worker at the Akashwani MLA hostel in Colaba. The incident, which took place during the ongoing Maharashtra Monsoon session, has sparked national debate over the conduct of public representatives.

Gaikwad, representing Buldhana in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, demanded to inspect the quality of the dal served in his Tuesday night meal. He claimed the dal looked foul-smelling and “at least three days old,” stating the first bite made him vomit and left him nauseated—a reaction he had reportedly experienced previously. In the clip, he is seen storming into the canteen, brandishing a packet of dal, asking staff to smell it, and reacting violently, slapping and punching a worker multiple times.

Gaikwad defended his actions without remorse. He told PTI that he is both an elected official and “a fighter,” adding, “When someone fails to understand democratic language, then I have to use this language”—referencing the tough rhetoric of Shiv Sena's founder, Balasaheb Thackeray . Emphasizing his physical training—in judo, gymnastics, karate, and wrestling—he clarified, “I am not a Gandhian” and promised to repeat such actions if necessary.

The MLA also claimed to have lodged multiple complaints about the hostel's food quality and threatened action through the Food and Drug Administration against the canteen contractor. He stated that CN next time improved food arrangements should be made, asserting he wouldn’t tolerate poor standards.

Reaction has been swift. Opposition parties, including Congress and the Shiv Sena UBT (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), have condemned the incident as a flagrant abuse of power. Congress MLA Nana Patole criticized Gaikwad's dual role as head of the food committee in the Assembly, questioning his fitness to continue in that position after witnessing such unchecked conduct. MP Priyanka Chaturvedi of Sena UBT also posted the video on social media, lambasting the ruling alliance for allowing such actions to go unpunished: “Meet Shah Sena's MLA… beating up a poor, helpless canteen worker,” she wrote .

Despite the backlash, the assaulted worker declined to file a police complaint. Many hostel diners and canteen staff echoed that the food quality was substandard but stressed that physical assault was unacceptable. They appeal instead for systemic reforms rather than vigilantism .

This incident adds to Gaikwad’s controversial reputation. In September 2024, he had offered a reward of ₹11 lakh to anyone who would harm Rahul Gandhi’s tongue over remarks regarding reservation policy—a statement that drew widespread condemnation at the time.

The episode raises serious questions about accountability in public office and the limits of individual authority. With the Assembly session in full swing and heated legislative debates unfolding, Gaikwad's conduct is likely to be scrutinized both within political circles and in the media spotlight. The incident may prompt reconsideration of protocols governing MLA hostels and public hospitality services.

The viral video of MLA Sanjay Gaikwad assaulting canteen staff over alleged stale food has ignited a debate over power, decorum, and the boundaries of acceptable behavior by elected representatives. As criticism grows, stakeholders are calling for improved institutional oversight rather than ad hoc aggression.