Launching a tirade against Ajit for his criticism of Thackeray at a public rally in the town of Shirdi, Ahmednagar district, Raj said there was no reason at all for Ajit to criticize Thackeray keeping in mind the huge age difference between the two. But Ajit slammed Thackeray in order to divert the people’s attention from the corruption in which the deputy chief minister is involved.

“There is a scam daily in which one or the other members of the Pawar family are involved. They are involved in bank scams, millions-of- rupees land scams, the 2G-spectrum scam, the partnership of fraudster Shahid Balwa, the illegal construction of a farm house and the spilling out of millions-of-rupees corruption in different sectors. This is the tack record of the Pawars,” Raj alleged.

Raj also took to task the Republican Party of India (Athavale) RPI-A President Ramdas Athavale for his criticism of Raj at a recent rally where he accused Raj of stabbing his uncle Thackeray in the back with a dagger.

Raj asked: “Does Athavale have a dagger factory? What is this man speaking. He himself does not know. After constructing a four-story bungalow next to Thackeray’s bungalow in Bandra, Athavale is behaving as if he is the Sena spokesman. I do not know how the RPI leader has constructed the bungalow or did he get it through the reservation quota. I also do not remember if ever Athavale had done a job or business. Then the question is how did he get the plot next to the Thackeray residence? And then Athavale appears to be illiterate and should go to primary school. As far as the navy blue flag color used by different parties, Athavale claim that it belongs to his party, is nothing but stupid attitude. The blue color is not anyone’s property.”

The political mercury in Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmednagar soared high. Political analysts attributed Ajit’s outburst to Sena’s latest alliance with RPI-A. At the public rally in Shirdi, Ajit attacked Thackeray and said that the Sena leader kept invoking Shivaji’s legacy from time to time for political gains. Ajit questioned Thackeray what he had done all these years? Did he set up a decent school or college? Did he start a milk cooperative society for the benefit of farmers? Except ensconced in the safety of his Bandra home, Thackeray keeps roaring the slogans in praise of Shivaji and Marathi people, the NCP leader said.

The Sena was quick to retaliate. Party MP Sanjay Raut said, "Ajit suggests that Balasaheb hasn't done any concrete work for his followers. For the Congress-NCP leaders, concrete work means monumental scandals such as Adarsh, CWG and the 2-G spectrum scandal. If one goes by the Congress-NCP's yardstick, then Balasaheb hasn't done concrete work."

Sena leader Neelam Gorhe said, "Before pointing an accusing finger at Balasaheb, Ajit should examine his track record. He and his close aides are involved in a slew of scandals, the latest being the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank fraud.''

Thackeray too did not spare the junior Pawar and said that the NCP has started on a mission to rename the Dadar suburb railway station after the Dalit (lower caste Hindu) leader Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in order to appease the Dalits. I challenge the Pawars to dare change the name of their hometown Baramati as Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar district and then talk about renaming Dadar after Ambedkar.