Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Thackeray cousins exchanged sharp words as the political temperature rose ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The war of words began on the very first day (Wednesday) after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) head Raj Thackeray officially announced their alliance, signalling the start of a high-stakes and bitter battle for Mumbai’s civic body.

Responding to a media query, Raj Thackeray said the BJP should not lecture others on Hindutva. “There is a video on social media in which Fadnavis is heard saying, ‘Allah Hafiz’,” the MNS chief stated. Raj further warned that he has several such old videos in his possession and warned that whether these are made public or not would depend on how the BJP and its leaders level allegations in the future.