Anil Kadam, Shiv Sena MLA from Niphad of the Nashik district, submitted his resignation to party chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday at Ozar airport when Mr Thackeray was on a tour to Shirdi. He has not taken any decision yet on the resignation. “I will check the matter and then take a decision,” he told the media at Shirdi.
A senior party leader said on condition of anonymity that it would help the party's image if the resignation is accepted.
Mr Kadam has been accused of abusing a woman employee at the Pimpalgaon toll plaza near Nashik on Thursday. He allegedly used abusive language with the toll employees. The toll collection tender is allotted to Larsen and Toubro (L&T) on Mumbai-Agra national highway no. 6. It is the only women operated toll plaza in India.
The incident took place when Mr Kadam refused to pay the toll tax. Sources said he was travelling with his supporters in a private vehicle to a place in his constituency. When the toll tax was demanded, he refused to pay it. A verbal altercation started after the employees asked for his identity card. He went on a rampage, broke computers and vandalised the tollbooth.
A local private channel aired the video footage which purportedly showed him abusing the female staff at the booth.
As the situation went against him, Mr Kadam on Saturday met Mr Thackeray and submitted his resignation. Speaking to this newspaper, he said, “The video was pre-planned. I am a people’s representative. I fight for them. The demand for parading me on a donkey is insulting for me. I had done nothing wrong,” he added. He further said, “The girls on the toll booth are not well educated, and they used harsh and abusive language. My party chief will decide on my resignation.”