Sanjay Gaikwad, a Shiv Sena legislator from Buldhana, made a statement at a press conference on Tuesday that urged people not to attend funerals of farmers who commit suicide. He said, "Only when people realise that their bodies may be eaten by animals and understand what happens to their remains will they stop committing suicide." The remarks were met with immediate backlash from local residents and activists.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reacted strongly, saying the comments were "shocking and unacceptable." He warned that the party would consider suspending Gaikwad pending a disciplinary committee review. The Shiv Sena leadership is concerned that the remarks damage the party’s image amid its ongoing efforts to support the agricultural community.
Gaikwad’s record of controversy is long. In February 2024 he faced a forest department probe after claiming to have hunted a tiger in 1987 and wearing a tiger tooth pendant. He has also been involved in physical altercations, including a January 2025 incident in which he insulted voters and a July assault on a canteen worker at the Mumbai MLA hostel. Earlier this year, he threatened a publisher over an activist book and offered a ₹11 lakh reward for cutting Rahul Gandhi’s tongue.
The disciplinary committee will convene next week to decide on Gaikwad’s fate. If suspended, he would lose his MLA seat and face a by‑poll in Buldhana. The decision will likely influence Shiv Sena’s strategy in upcoming Maharashtra elections.