The verbal duel between Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray reached a new crescendo on Thursday, with the Nationalist Congress Party leader challenging the latter to prove allegations of corruption against him.
Raj had recently publicly advised Anna (Hazare) who was in Delhi to first eradicate corruption from Maharashtra and had suggested he start with state ministries of Ajit Pawar and Chhagan Bhujbal.
Pawar heads the key ministries of finance and energy while Bhujbal is the minister for Public Works Department in Maharashtra.
Ajit responded by saying that it was easier to make allegations to elicit claps from the audience. "I challenge him to prove those allegations against me," said Mr Pawar speaking to the media.
Ajit added that Raj should not be using Anna Hazare to target other leaders. Quick to respond, Raj replied that he was capable of tackling his adversaries on his own and needed no one else.
The war of words has gathered momentum since the NCP leader was anointed as the deputy chief minister. Unlike his uncle Congress leader Sharad Pawar, Ajit does not believe in cultivating warm relations with leaders of rival parties.
This was not the first time Raj had made a dig at Pawar. Last month, Raj had lambasted Pawar for insulting his uncle Bal Thackeray. Raj was reacting to Pawar's statement that Bal Thackeray did not make any significant contribution to the society.
