Tags: Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 25 All it took was a brief meeting with his party chief Raj Thackeray to make Ramesh Wanjale break his habit of wearing around 2.25 kg gold on his person.

The 44-year-old Wanjale, who won the state Assembly elections from Khadakvasla in Pune district as a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate, had become one of the most recognised faces on TV screens during poll campaign, what with the loads of gold ornaments worn by him.

Wanjale wears two gold bands weighing 750 gm each around his neck and a 500-gm bracelet in 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, after meeting Raj a day after counting of votes, Wanjale has realised so much gold may not be good for the party's image.

"Rajsaheb asked me to stop wearing this much gold," he said.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Add to del.icio.us | digg this | Stumble It