Raj Thackeray attacks BJP's Patil for not contesting from Kolhapur

With Maharashtra Assembly election on Monday, October 21, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has hit out at the BJP’s state chief Chandrakant Patil. Thackeray questioned Patil over contenting from Kothrud instead of his native in Kolhapur. This comes just a day after the Chandrakant Patil had responded to Raj Thackeray’s “Champa” jibe.

Raj Thackeray calls out Chandrakant Patil 

Raj Thackeray in a rally said that “Chandrakant Patil is basically from Kolhapur. Why is he scared of contesting from Kolhapur and why is he contesting from Kothrud? The atmosphere was not such in Maharashtra some 10-15 years ago when a candidate of a particular community had to be fielded from that constituency, with major representation from people of that community. Do we want to make Maharashtra like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh?" 

"An outsider has been imposed upon you...you people have been taken for granted, thinking that they (BJP) can field any person from anywhere and people will elect him," said Thackeray.

Read | Raj Thackeray along with his son enjoys Mamledar Misal Pav post-rally

Thackeray praises former PM 

Talking about former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Raj Thackeray said, “Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is an intellectual person, a great economist who is appreciated in world universities like Oxford, etc. He has said that economic slowdown is affecting the country badly. Manmohan Singh has said that whatever has happened, the economic slowdown is just a beginning and it is going to affect Maharashtra a lot. In the last 5 years, 14,000 farmers have committed suicide in Maharashtra that means one farmer has committed suicide every 3 hours.” 

Read | Raj Thackeray appeals voters to make MNS 'powerful opposition party'

Chandrakant Patil responds to “Champa” jibe 

During a previous rally, Raj Thackeray had reportedly referred to Chandrakant Patil as 'Champa' using the initials of his name. Maharashtra BJP Chief, Chandrakant Patil responded to this jibe and said, “Raj Thackeray has formed MNS. He is an educated man and a good person, but he is trying to accept everything that Sharad Pawar says. Pawar gives lines and he accepts it. Ajit Pawar calls me Champa so Raj Thackeray repeated it”. Chandrakant Patil added that he did not mind Thackeray calling him Champa and added that his mother used to call him Chandya in childhood. 

Read | Raj Thackeray's convoy meets with an accident, MNS chief unhurt

Read | Raj Thackeray announces MNS to contest Maharashtra Assembly polls

(With ANI Inputs)