MNS's Ramesh Wanjale surprised everyone by snatching the Khadakwasala seat

MNS's Ramesh Wanjale with his love for gold necklaces and Ganesha surprised everyone by snatching the Khadakwasala seat from NCP

Ramesh Wanjale can now be called the golden man of Pune politics. That he's the only winning MNS candidate from Pune district in the Assembly polls is a footnote. It's his veryu00a0u00a0 love for Lord Ganesha and the 1.75 kg gold necklaces that he always wears that have made Wanjale one of the more colourful politicians around.

"Lord Ganesha heard my prayers and made me very happy yesterday," Wanjale told MiD DAY. He won the prestigious Khadakwasala seat after defeating his biggest rival, NCP's Vikas Dangat, by a margin of 22,418 votes.

Thank you, Raj
Wanjale, a farmer and a dairy businessman, believes the reason he won is Raj Thackeray's rally at Khadakwasala in the later stages of campaigning,u00a0 where he addressed over 30,000 people. "Thackeray and Ganpati gave me the strength to win this election," said Wanjale.

While campaigning, Wanjale had distributed A3-sized laminated pictures of the Dagdusheth Ganpati to his voters. "I have always prayed to Dagdusheth Ganpati to give me as much gold as he wears on his body," he added.

This fascination with gold means the heavy metal necklaces have become Wanjale's trademark. "Being a wrestler, I can protect my jewellery," he said.

Wanjale was sure of his victory. Yesterday, his workers had prepared the huge hoarding congratulating him some days ago. Wanjale has now planned a victory rally where he'll ride an elephant.