Wanjale, who is always decked up in gold jewellery, won the state assembly elections from Khadakvasla in Pune district on an MNS ticket and had become one of the most recognised faces on TV screens during the poll campaign.
The 44-year-old MLA wears two gold bands weighing 750 gm each around his neck and a 500-gm bracelet on his right hand. He also wears 250-gm gold rings- one with the party symbol Railway Engine.
One without qualms about wearing so much gold, Wanjale said, “I pay tax and have not hidden my wealth. I declared all my gold in the poll affidavit.” Wanjale declared gold worth Rs 25 lakh in his name and Rs 8 lakh in his wife’s.
However, on meeting Raj a day after counting of votes, Wanjale realised adorning so much gold may not be good for the party’s image. “Rajsaheb asked me to stop wearing so much gold,” he said.
Published 25 October 2009, 19:16 IST