Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday alleged that Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and former Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray were trying to use the Maratha quota stir to trigger riots, especially in the Marathwada region, ahead of the state Assembly elections in October-November.

Addressing a press conference in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Thackeray claimed that Uddhav and Pawar are using the Manoj Jarange-led quota stir as a shield for caste politics.