Mumbai: Shripad Chhindam, who created a huge controversy with his alleged derogatory comments about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj last year, won the election in Ahmednagar. He was expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party and jailed following the controversy generated over his comment. Even after the court released him on bail, he was externed from Ahmednagar. But he still managed to win the election as an independent candidate, defeating the BJP’s official candidate.
Mr Chhindam stood as an independent candidate in ward number 9 of Ahmednagar. Here he won with more than 2,000 votes against his immediate contender. Since Mr Chhindam is externed from Ahmednagar, his brother managed his whole campaign. The police also booked his brother for performing rituals at EVM when voting started on Sunday.
Few months ago, Mr Chhindam's remarks had created an uproar in the state. The legislative houses were adjourned for a day over his remarks on Shivaji. He was the BJP corporator in the Ahmedngar municipality at the time. He was also deputy mayor of the party before that.
Looking at the strong emotions of the people in the state, the BJP had expelled him from the party and he was also arrested by the police. But it seems that none of this has impacted his voters as he won the election from his ward on Monday.
